MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak's opposition to the referral of three MPs, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey, and Kennedy Agyepong to the Privileges Committee for absenteeism is not a caucus decision.
He said as a caucus they have not met to take that position.
But the Former MP for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak who filed the petition for the referral of the MPs said there is a need to change the Minority leadership in Parliament because they are not serving the interest of the party.
he referral in Parliament was marked by some protests by the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, who later filed a motion calling for the referral of the three MPs to be rescinded.
Mr. Muntaka felt the Speaker should refer the MPs to the Privileges Committee on his own accord because it would set a bad precedent.
While referring the three MPs to the committee, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said the absence of the MPs without his permission constituted a breach of the rules of the house.
In Parliament on Tuesday, he urged the committee to provide its report to the house two weeks after the House reconvenes from its recess.
A former MP for Kumbumgu, Ras Mubarak, petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to tackle absenteeism in Parliament.
He also said the MPs cited had breached Parliament’s Standing Order 16(1) which frowns on Members absenting themselves for 15 sitting days without permission from the Speaker.
Per Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, a Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat “if he is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker, and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from 15 sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet.”