The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea says the Majority Caucus will henceforth, ensure that the embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson does not participate in any parliamentary business.
According to him, once a High Court of the land has declared the MP as a non-legislator and ordered his seat vacant, he cannot be allowed into the Chamber.
The Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson has been slapped with criminal charges including perjury and forgery by the Attorney-General’s office.
Also, the MP has been charged with an additional offence of deceit and knowingly making a false declaration to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that he did not owe allegiance to another country to acquire a Ghanaian passport.
The charges have been described by the Minority as frivolous and a lousy tactic by the Akufo-Addo led government to pass the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) Bill.
“Having failed several times to pass the much-loathed e-levy in the wake of the nationalistic resistance of the gallant 137 NDC Members of Parliament, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia Government has now resorted to crude and disgraceful tactics to reduce the numbers of NDC MPs in the august house of Parliament, hoping that would help the regime to railroad the e-levy into law,” Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu said at a press conference.
In a sharp rebuttal, however, Mr Atta Akyea said claims that the criminal prosecution against the MP is to reduce and weaken the Minority’s strength, can best be described as preposterous.
“So we are saying that when it comes to criminality and it is the NDC who are affected, we shouldn’t pursue them? We shouldn’t do anything about crime because a bill is pending before Parliament?” he questioned.
Speaking to JoyNews’ parliamentary correspondent, Kwesi Parker-Wilson, Mr Atta Akyea said his side will draw the attention of the Speaker anytime Mr Quayson appears in the Chamber to partake in the business of the House.
“How can a non-MP be in the Chamber and deliberate on matters considering legislation? They should know better. I was even surprised that the Speaker did not call his attention to the fact that he should get out of the Chamber. Until that decision by the High Court is reversed, he has no right to be in the Chamber,” he said.
Source: The Newsroom Online
