The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central has said whenever chaos breaks out in Parliament, it means members of the Majority Group are attempting to violate the standing orders.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga noted that the Minority cannot sit aloof and watch the rules to be violated, thus the fisticuffs that occurred in the House last year.

“In all the instances when the House has been turned into chaos, it’s because members who are on the side of the Minority believe that there’s been an attempt to violate the rules in a way that they might never have an opportunity to correct if they allow the rules to be violated,” he stated while speaking on Asaase Radio on Monday.

According to Mr. Ayariga, who is also a member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, it is unacceptable for Members of Parliament to resort to violence whenever they fail to reach a consensus over a matter.

“We should not have situations where in Parliament we have to defend with fisticuffs. That’s not acceptable, that’s not a good impression to create, that’s not a good example to create of what should be the conduct of leaders in our country.”

His comments come as a response to a statement by Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh over the matter on the same platform.

Mr. Annoh-Dompreh suggested that MPs who engage in acts of violence in the House be prosecuted as any criminal would be per the 1992 Constitution.

“I will insist if this thing [scuffle in Parliament] happens again, that all the people involved must face the full rigours of the law. They must be treated as any criminal anywhere and all these MPs [who engage] in such acts must lose their privileges.”

The Majority Chief Whip noted that no member on his side would be granted immunity when found culpable.

“If anybody in the Majority gets that dirty, they should face the full rigours of the law”, adding that “we expect the Minority to be civil. We’re not expecting them to sing our praises to agree with everything we put across, but let’s have some decorum, let’s have some civility.”

According to Mr. Ayariga, he is for interventions that would prevent such unfortunate incidents that dent the reputation of the Legislature from happening.

“I can understand him (Annoh-Dompreh) if he made those calls and I believe that we all are concerned about this situation and I hope that we don’t find ourselves in that situation again.”

The Bawku Central MP, however, urged that “we also must ensure that the rules are interpreted properly that those who are in authority and presiding, conduct themselves according to the rules.”

MPs tango in Parliament

On Monday, December 20, 2021, a scuffle broke out in Parliament when the House sat to deliberate the E-levy Bill.

The House was to decide whether the E-levy bill should be accepted under a certificate of urgency or not.

However, the sitting which was presided over by First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu turned chaotic when the Minority side attempted to prevent the Deputy Speaker from vacating his chair to participate in the headcount voting process.

This resulted in a clash between the two sides in Parliament. Some MPs threw their fists while others fell to the ground. Proceeding was then adjourned due to the misconduct.

Prior to this, Ghanaians observed legislators behave unruly during the election of Speaker Alban Bagbin on January 7 last year.

NDC MPs-elect in the House began jubilating after claiming their nominee, Alban Sumani Bagbin had won the Speakership position by two votes.

To save the day for his party, MP-elect for Tema West, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah snatched ballot papers from the hands of the parliamentary official and bolted through the exit of the chamber amidst resistance from his colleagues.