The leader of an anti-campaigner group against the newly proposed Chamber, the Economic Fighters League, and two other members have been arrested for disrupting proceedings at the Parliamentary Chamber.
The Economic Fighters League leader, Mr. Ernesto Yeboah and other two members were arrested at the public gallary for shouting when proceesings on the floor of the House had commenced.
During the presentation of a statement by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the issue of the new chamber, Mr. Yeboah and the other member stood up and shouted, “drop that chamber”.
The I nterruption by Mr. Yeboah and the other two members of the Economic Fighters League drew the attention of the security operatives of the Parliamentary Protection Unit (PPU) stationed at the public gallary and subsequently, caused their arrest.
As Mr. Yeboah was being taken away by the security operatives, he again shouted that nobody can neither beat nor kill him, and that no one can restrain him from exercising his right to demonstrate and telling the truth.
The three suspects were taken to the Parliamentary Police Post for their statements and interrogation.
The Commander of the Parliament Police Post, Superintendent Freeman Tete, in an interview with ghanajustice.com, stated that the actions of the three suspects is a crime, and that statements would be taken for further interrogation.
Further checks by ghanajustice.com has revealed that the three suspects have been transferred to the Ministries Police Station.
In the Standing Orders of Parliament, any form of disruption of Parliamentary proceedings is tantamount to Contempt of Parliament.
Parliament has come under heavy criticism after the design of a newly proposed Parliamentary Chamber was presented to the Parliamentary Service Board and the leadership of Parliament.
The House is divided on the proposal of the new Parliamentary Chamber from both the Minority and the Majority Caucus.
On June 28, 2019, officials from Adjaye and Associates paid a courtesy call on the Parliamentary Service Board and the leadership of Parliament, to discuss details of a proposed Parliamentary Chamber after it won the competitive tender.
The newly designed 450 MPs’ seater structure is expected to be located right in front of the premises of the current Parliamentary complex.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
