Ofosu Boakye accuses Bagbin of turning passport saga into show of power

Former Suame Municipal Chief Executive Maxwell Ofosu Boakye has criticised Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin for ejecting Samuel Abu Jinapor from the parliamentary chamber during a heated debate over the alleged sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports. Ofosu Boakye argued that the Speaker turned the matter into a show of power instead of allowing Parliament to investigate the allegations raised by Abu Jinapor, the Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. Abu Jinapor had alleged on the floor of Parliament that a syndicate was selling Ghanaian diplomatic passports for as much as $50,000. Bagbin subsequently asked him to substantiate the claim, but after he failed to comply, the Speaker ordered a parliamentary marshal to escort him out of the chamber. Reacting to the incident, Ofosu Boakye said the Speaker did not give the NPP MP enough opportunity to explain himself or provide further details. “He didn't even give him the opportunity to express himself. It was more of an intimidation; it was more of a show of power," he said on Joy News. He argued that Parliament could have referred the matter to a committee for investigation rather than shutting down the discussion. “If the gentleman, Honourable Abu Jinapor, raised that issue and if the Speaker was minded, he would have asked for more answers. Parliament could form a committee and then take up the issue. What is wrong with that?" he questioned. Ofosu Boakye further accused Bagbin of using his position to prevent a matter that could embarrass the government from being discussed. He insisted that Abu Jinapor was not merely asked to step aside but was forced out of the chamber. "He wasn't asked to step out. He was driven out by the Speaker," he said. Ofosu Boakye added that the matter would be formally presented to Parliament in the coming days, arguing that the House would then have to examine the allegations.Source: mynewsgh.com
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