Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has directed an immediate formal investigation to identify MP who made ‘daughter of a murderer’ comment during proceedings in Parliament last month.
During parliamentary proceedings on Tuesday, February 4, a voice was heard shouting, “Daughter of a murderer, sit down! Daughter of a murderer, sit down!” referring to the Klottey Korle MP, Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings while she was making a submission on the floor of the House.
Both the Majority Members and the Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin have condemned the comment against Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings.
Following a request from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Speaker Bagbin to investigate the matter, the Speaker has ordered for an investigation to identify the MP who made the comment.
This development comes after a group from the Anlo traditional area, led by the Zipuito of Anlo Duker and former Member of Parliament, Hon. Dan Kwashie Abodakpi, presented a petition to the Speaker today.
They called on Parliament to identify the MP who made derogatory remarks about Dr. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings.
Hon. Dan Abodakpi highlighted the contributions of the former first president of the fourth republic, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, stating that Ghana's current democratic dispensation is due to his invaluable contributions, adding that referring to his daughter in such derogatory terms is both unfortunate and undesirable.
Receiving the petition on behalf of Speaker Bagbin, the Clerk to Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, acknowledged the gravity of the matter and assured the group that Parliament values decorous behavior. He promised that swift action would be taken to identify the member responsible for the remarks and that appropriate punitive measures would be enforced.
The Speaker in a statement on the Floor of the House condemned the act, stating that such conduct is dishonorable and unbecoming of a Member of Parliament.
“I advise the member responsible to within the week to show honesty and plead than wait for outcome of investigations,” Alban Bagbin noted.
According to the Speaker, the member responsible when found “guilty of defamation… will be liable to be reprimanded or suspended for a period not exceeding 9 months or expelled from Parliament altogether.”
The Speaker’s ultimatum has been backed by the Majority Leader, who joined in urging the MP to take responsibility for their actions.
The Majority Leader warned that if the MP refuses to come forward, the House will support the imposition of the highest sanctions once the investigation identifies the individual.
