Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has called for immediate disciplinary measures against New Patriotic Party (NPP) backbenchers, following their collective silence regarding an inflammatory comment made earlier this year on the floor of Parliament.
The controversy centers on a derogatory comment “daughter of a murderer”directed at Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle and daughter of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
The incident occurred during a parliamentary session on February 4, amid heated discussions commemorating the 60th anniversary of Joseph Boakye Danquah’s death.
As Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin addressed the House, an unidentified male voice from the parliamentary backbench interrupted, shouting, “Daughter of a murderer, sit down!”
This comment insinuated that Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings’ father was responsible for past political killings a claim that remains a subject of historical debate.
However, speaking during Tuesday’s resumed parliamentary session, Ayariga urged that all NPP backbenchers present at the time of the incident be referred to the Privileges Committee for a thorough investigation.
He described their continued silence as a “breach of privilege” and insisted the matter will not be swept under the rug.
“The majority caucus will demand that all the NPP members of the backbench who were sitting in the direction where the unsavory statement came from should be referred to the Privileges Committee for investigation of a contempt to breach of the privileges of a member,” Ayariga declared.
He condemned the remark as a disgraceful episode in Parliament’s recent history and reiterated the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus’s firm stance on the issue.
Despite a one-week ultimatum issued by the Speaker of Parliament for the responsible individual to come forward, no one has taken responsibility for the offensive outburst.
Source: www.kumasimail.com / Kwadwo Owusu
