MPs frown at closed sitting disclosure

The Member of Parliament for Akim-Abuakwa North, Prof. Samuel Amoako has disclosed that the Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku, Mr. David Tetteh had made public the issue of the close sittings of the House on radio.

According to Mr. Amoako, he heard the said Member of Parliament (MP) being interviewed about the discussions of their close sitting that transpired last week Friday on Peace FM. Speaking on the floor of the House yesterday, Prof. Amoako, quoting Article 44(5) of the standing Order of the House said “no person other than a person acting under the authority of Mr. Speaker shall issue any report of, or purport to describe any proceedings, or any decision of a close sitting”.

“Madam Speaker, how can a Member of this August House discuss what had transpired in a close sitting”, he questioned. But the Member of Parliament for Shai Osudoku, Mr. Assumeng, David Tetteh denied the claims and added that he cannot give remarks on a sitting he had been absent from.

“It is a wrong accusation, it is not true I was not here on Friday and never spoke on any issue about Friday’s close sitting”, he emphasized.

The Minister for Health, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Nadowli West, Alban Bagbin, described it as just a comment. Referring to Article 45 of the Standing Orders; “Disclosure of proceedings or decisions by any person in any manner shall be treated as a gross breach of privileges of the House”.

Furthermore, the Minister noted that a member of the House might be confronted with a question as to whether there had been a close sitting could not be referred to as a disclosure of what transpired.

“If a member is called in for a newspaper review, would that amount to disclosure? I want us to look at it deeper than the way it is been presented, as some people will say such remarks do not amount to a gross disclosure of a close sitting”.