The four times MPs, minister have been sacked from Parliament by the Speaker

The Standing Orders of Parliament give the Speaker of Parliament the power to take necessary actions to maintain order in the house.

Order 100 (1) of the house, in particular, states that the Speaker can remove any Member of Parliament (MP) from the house for actions deemed unparliamentary.

The order states: “Mr. Speaker may order a Member whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the House during the remainder of that day's sitting, and the Marshal shall act on such orders as he may receive from the Chair in pursuance of the provisions of this paragraph. But if on any occasion Mr. Speaker deems that his powers under the previous provisions of this paragraph are inadequate, he may name such Member or Members, in which event the same procedure shall be followed as is prescribed in Order 99, this Order and Order 101.”

Additionally, section ‘C’ of Order 36 (2), which lists the functions of the Marshal of Parliament, states that “There shall be an officer of Parliament to be called the Marshal to carry out Mr. Speaker's directions for the maintenance of order in the house.”

Although Speakers of Ghana’s Parliament in the 4th Republic rarely use this power, they have done so in several instances for conduct deemed disrespectful of the House.

Here are four instances when MPs were removed from Parliament by the Speaker:

Former MP for Adenta, Kojo Adu Asare:



The former MP for Adenta, Kojo Adu Asare, was removed from the floor of Parliament in April 2012 by then-Speaker Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo.

This was after the late former MP for Old Tafo, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, singled him out for improper dressing as he typically wore his suit without a tie.

The issue sparked a huge debate on the floor of Parliament, ending with Speaker Bamford-Addo ruling that MPs should either be in full African wear or western attire comprising a suit and tie.

However, Mr. Adu Asare flouted the Speaker's directive again in April 2012 and, as he was being singled out, crawled like a baby behind the tables in the house to avoid being sacked for improper dressing again.

MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini:



The MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, was ordered to leave the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, by 1st Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu.

This was after Suhuyini disrupted proceedings of the house following the Majority side's motion demanding that the Minority apologize to the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Lydia Alhassan, for describing her as a “bloody widow” at her swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, February 7, 2019, after winning the by-election which was riddled with violence.

The 1st Deputy Speaker, who found the conduct of Alhassan Suhuyini unparliamentary, said: “Honourable Member for Tamale North, kindly leave the house.”

The Tamale North legislator left the house amidst disapproving shouts from the Minority side.

Former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto:



The former Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto was sacked from the floor of Parliament for improper dressing in 2021. The minister was seen in the house wearing a suit without a tie, which the rules of Parliament require, and this was brought to the attention of the 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, by the MP for Adaklu, Governs Kwami Agbodza.

Agbodza stated, “We stay in Ghana and Africa, and we always talk about colonialism and neocolonialism. Mr. Speaker, the Speaker of the British Parliament has ruled that a Member of Parliament can enter the house without wearing a tie. We watch them always ask questions without wearing a tie, and we sit in Ghana and shamefully say that someone isn’t wearing a tie. It’s shameful and you must dismiss it.”

This sparked a debate in the house, but the 1st Deputy Speaker ruled that the Adaklu legislator was right and ordered the minister out of the house to go and dress properly.

Sefwi Wiawso MP and former Minister for Environment, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie:

The MP for Sefwi Wiawso and former Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, is the latest to be removed from Parliament for inappropriate conduct.

On July 22, 2024, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin ordered the removal of Kwaku Afriyie following what he deemed contemptuous remarks.

The incident, captured on camera, showed Dr. Afriyie making some remarks on the floor, and Speaker Bagbin, visibly infuriated, interpreted the comment as disrespectful.

“This is a completely rude remark, and I can send you out of the House now. It lies in my authority to do so. You represent the good people of Sefwi-Wiawso; I represent the whole country,” he said.

He then addressed the Marshal: “Please, Marshal, take him out of the house.”

Although the Marshal bowed to carry out the order, Afriyie had already risen to leave, resisting the Marshal’s attempt to lead him out.



BAI/OGB

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