Kofi Wayo to face Parliamentary Privileges Committee

Accra, July 5, GNA - Parliament on Monday took exception to the insults of Mr Kofi Wayo, who was said to have lashed at parliamentarians, describing them as 'mostly criminals and egocentric lots'.

The Minority Leader, however advised parliament "not to glorify statements from lunatics and idiots."

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Member of Parliament for Amenfi West who raised the issue, called on Parliament to site him for contempt of Parliament, and that he (Kofi Wayo) should be made to face the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.

He quoted Standing Order 30 section 2, which frowned upon people making offensive remarks against parliament.

Mr Aidoo said the issue was reported in today's (July 5, 2010) issue of the New Crusading Guide, page nine.

Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority Leader, said the matter was a serious one for which evidence should be substantiated for the House to act appropriately.

Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, Member of Parliament for Asawase, urged parliament to contact the FM station on which the comments were made, to build evidence about the issue.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that he had personally not read the report, but believed that the paper that published it was a credible one. "The House should not glorify statements from lunatics and idiots," he said.

Mr Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said contempt of parliament could arise from parliament and outside parliament. He explained that while contempt inside parliament could be immediately referred to the Privileges Committee immediately, contempt of parliament outside the House must be investigated well, before it was referred to the committee.

He said he shared the view of the Minority Leader but dissociated himself from his stern language.

Prof Mike Oquaye, Second Speaker of the House, said enough evidence must be gathered before parliament leaped, since the issue was outside parliament.

The Speaker, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, ruled that she would confer with the leadership of the House, to determine whether the matter be referred to the committee or not.

Mr Kofi Yayo, a political commentator, was said to have made disparaging comments about MPs on the programme 'Point Blank', a current affairs programme on Citi FM, on which Mr Kofi Way insulted the MPs as criminals. 5 July 10