The Minority caucus’s recent boycott of parliamentary business without official communication constitutes a breach of the Standing Orders of the house, according to the Speaker of the House.
The Speaker’s declaration came in response to concerns raised by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, regarding the absence of Minority representation without permission in the Votes and Proceedings of Parliament.
The Speaker ruled that this gesture by the Minority was not justified.
The Minority has taken a decision to accompany the member for Assin North James Gyakye Quayson to court any day he attends court for his criminal trial.
The side has already abandoned two days of parliamentary business to solidarize with Gyakye Quayson at the court.
According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, a member is required to vacate his/her seat after being absent for 15 sittings without permission from the Speaker, and failing to provide a reasonable explanation for their absence.
“Some MPs have been recorded as absent without permission, and concerns have been raised about the definition of walk-out and boycott.”
“The deputy Minority Whip has raised a serious matter, highlighting that, to his knowledge, some members were not present yesterday, yet they have been marked as present. This is an indictment on the officers of Parliament,” the Speaker stated.
According to him, regarding attendance, Article 97 (1C) is clear and guides the attendance of the house.
Members, he said, can choose to attend or choose not to attend.
He said, “When they refuse to attend, depending on their actions, they may be marked as absent or absent with permission because it is a breach of the Standing Orders.”
“The burden now lies with the group to provide evidence that I, as the Speaker, granted them permission to be absent in writing, not verbally.”
“They must demonstrate that whenever a colleague of theirs needs to attend court proceedings, they will show solidarity and be absent so that the official report can reflect that,” he added.