Bagbin goes after parliamentary service staff over unauthorised release of 'Hansard' to Afenyo-Markin

The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has initiated disciplinary measures against a senior executive officer of the Parliamentary Service, Thomas Bosompem, for releasing the draft "Hansard" of Thursday, October 17, 2024, to the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The Speaker's decision, contained in a query memo dated Monday, October 21 2024, was sighted by GhanaWeb on Monday, October 21, 2024.

"Pursuant to Regulation 51(c) and (o) of the Parliamentary Service (Staff) Regulations, 2019, (C. I. 1 18), explain why disciplinary action should not be instituted against you for photocopying the draft 'Hansard' of Thursday, October 17, 2024, and making same available to some other persons without authorisation.

"Your response should be submitted to the Editor of Debates, Chamber Reporting, by 4.00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23 2024," it stated.

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, following an application by the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared four parliamentary seats vacant.

The legislators who were affected by the Speaker's ruling were Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, MP for Amenfi Central; Andrew Asiamah Amoako, MP for Fomena; Kwadjo Asante, MP for Suhum; and Cynthia Morrison, MP for Agona West.

Subsequently, lawyers of the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, proceeded to the Supreme Court on Friday, October 18, 2024, with an ex parte application beseeching the Supreme Court to stay the enforcement of the ruling of the Speaker.

A five-member Supreme Court panel presided over by the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, granted the ex-parte motion and directed the parties to file their statements of case within seven days.

Read the query memo below:



JKB/ ADG

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