Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged the four suspended Members of Parliament (MPs) to take legal action against Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, arguing that the Speaker’s decision is not explicitly grounded in law.

Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on Saturday, February 1, 2025, Mr. Kpebu described the suspension as legally questionable, stating that Ghana’s laws do not grant the Speaker unilateral power to suspend MPs for such extended periods.

“I strongly urge the suspended MPs to sue the Speaker. Yes, the Parliament Act mandates the Speaker to maintain order in the House, but does that include outright suspension? That is difficult to justify legally,” Kpebu said.

The affected MPs—Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana (Gushegu), Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe), and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (South Dayi) were handed a two-week suspension on Friday, January 31, following chaotic scenes during the vetting of ministerial nominees in Parliament.

Speaker Bagbin described their conduct as “an embarrassment to the institution of Parliament” and directed the Parliamentary Marshal to bar them from the chamber during the suspension period.

However, the decision has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that the Speaker may have overstepped his authority. Martin Kpebu insists that while Parliament has rules for maintaining order, suspending MPs must be backed by clear constitutional provisions.

“When you read the relevant sections, the Speaker has powers to maintain the dignity of the House, but does that include suspending a member for two weeks? That’s a stretch,” he stated.

He further warned that allowing such actions to go unchallenged could set a dangerous precedent.

“If this is allowed to stand, what stops future Speakers from suspending MPs arbitrarily? Democracy thrives on due process. If the law does not expressly grant this power, let the courts decide.”

The suspended MPs have yet to publicly respond to Martin Kpebu’s call for legal action, but the matter is expected to generate further debate in the coming days.