NPP MP calls for Prosecution of Former Speaker

The Member of Parliament for Essikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Constituency, P. C Appiah Ofori has called on the police to immediately arrest and prosecute the former speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, for theft.

Speaking on Citi Fm news, Mr. Ofori fumed with anger over the embarrassing behaviour of the speaker “if indeed he has taken away all the items in his house then his action leads to stealing and the law should take its course”

He said the constitution spells out in article 71 that the president shall appoint a committee to recommend condition of service for the speaker,deputy speaker, MP’s, chairman and members of the council of state. He said the speaker is entitled to dental and medical services, a saloon car and an all purpose vehicle to be provided by the state upon retirement, among other benefits.

When the speaker was leaving office he took along 4 cars instead of 2 approved by the committee. The constitution, however does not recommend anywhere that all personal effects provided by the state for the comfort of public servants should be taken away, as in the case of the speaker. “I am told by Mr. Alban Bagbin. Majority leader in parliament that he carried away everything including even toilet roll, is that right, he queried?

“Considering his position and if indeed he did that then he must have disgraced himself, as this bothers on theft. He said that parliament should write to him to return those items, but failure to do so he should be picked by the police and prosecuted, so as to serve as a deterrent to other public servants.

Meanwhile, Minority Leader, Hon Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, in an interview said the speaker is ready and willing to pay for all items he took away from his official residence after a meeting by the Parliamentary Service Board.

The Board would discuss how to retrieve the furnishings and equipment, which, according to Majority Leader Alban Bagbin, amounts to over four billion old cedis.

Rt Hon Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, according to Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin stripped bare his official residence leaving only wall unit air conditions and a doormat.

Both Majority and Minority Leaders of Parliament have confirmed that Rt Hon Sekyi House indeed took away virtually everything from his official residence upon leaving office.