Fights in parliament shameful - Ras Mubarak

The Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak has condemned the near-brawl incident on the floor of Parliament on Thursday following the debate on the Joe Ghartey Committee report in connection with a bribery allegation made by Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga against the leadership of the Appointments Committee.

“What happened was very embarrassing because it is not members alone who are in parliament. There are journalists, and some section of public and how does it reflect on our image? I think as Members of Parliament we should begin to conduct ourselves properly. No matter how we disagree with each other at the end of the day it doesn’t degenerate to that extent to have heard people shouting that ‘Can you beat?, I will beat you’ and of all that, I feel it’s unparliamentary,” he said on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.5 FM.

The debate on the Joe Ghartey committee in parliament on Thursday almost ended in fisticuffs after Mahama Ayariga failed to render a sincere apology to the house when the committee’s report cited him for contempt of parliament.

Several legislators were captured throwing their fingers about in the air in anger after Mr Ayariga tried to question the work of the Joe Ghartey Committee.

The Committee had found Hon. Ayariga guilty of contempt of Parliament on the strength of Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, Section 32 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (Act 300) and Orders 28 and 30(2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.

The Committee therefore recommended to the Speaker to reprimand him in accordance with Section 35 of the Parliament Act, 1965 (Act 300).

But being a first time offender, the Committee recommended that Hon. Ayariga rendered unqualified apology to Parliament, purging himself of contempt.