Kumbungu MP Ras Mubarak has said Sydney Casely-Hayford’s apology for his alleged derogatory comments he made against parliament will not save him from eventually being hauled before parliament.
A contempt of parliament charge looms over the OccupyGhana member for his remarks about the law-making arm of government at a summit a week ago.
The Kumbungu MP on the floor of parliament on Thursday July 13 requested Speaker Mike Oquaye to invite the financial analyst to answer for comments he deemed injurious to the reputation of the house.
According to him, Mr Casely-Hayford had said the following about current and past MPs:
(1) “These people are sitting there, spending money like crazy, making stupid decisions and passing stupid laws...”
(2) “All they think of is ‘let's pass this thing quickly, let's go to Senchi Royal, let's go and sit there and chill and come back…’"
(3) “They don't read the papers that they are given, they don't think through what the challenges are...”
(4) “The first thing I will do if I had the opportunity is to break down parliament…”
Mr Casely-Hayford has apologised in several radio interviews describing his own comments as “harsh” and “over the top.” He said he will officially write an apology letter to parliament.
“I indeed went over the top, I do apologise for that. I used some language which I suppose I should not have used. I unreservedly apologise, because in mature conversation when you say something that you offend somebody and you are prompted, the least you can do is to say ‘I’m sorry’. It wasn’t meant to be offensive, this is where I was going and if it came out the wrong way then I do apologise sincerely, I have no reservation doing that,” he said.
But the MP wondered why Mr Casely-Hayford retracted the said comments only after he had petitioned parliament – a week after they had been uttered.
“If I had not taken this matter to parliament, would he have come out to apologise for his comments? Because it’s about a week since he made those comments, so what was he waiting for all this while?” Mr Mubarak questioned on Accra FM Friday July 14
In his view, he did not see how Mr Casely-Hayford, who he described as a friend of more than 10 years, would be able to wriggle himself out of a likely conviction for contempt should he be brought before the legislature, adding that it would be the place of parliament to determine what sanctions, hence his apology would not preclude an invitation to the chamber.
“His comments are so contemptuous, I don’t see how he can escape the problems he has created for himself,” he told show host Chief Jerry Forson.
“It’s not up to him as an individual to say he should be forgiven or punished. There are 275 of us plus the Speaker of parliament, the clerks. All of us have been tainted by the insult, so it will take all of us [to make a decision]. So at the end of the day, in line with the workings of parliament, the majority decision will carry the day.”
Source: Accrafm.com
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CASELY-HAYFORD SHOULD STOP APOLOGISING. THAT STICNKINGGGG STUPIDDDD FACE-MARKED RAS MUBARAK IS NOTHING BUT A PIECE OF STINKINGGG SHITTTTT. FUCKINGGGGGG NORTHERNER TO DICTATE TO US WHO APOLOGISES AND WHO IS IN TROUBLE WHEN HE HIMSELF HAS DONE WORSE! IF RAS MUBARAK IS HAULED BEFORE PALIAMENT WE WILL STAGE A DEMONSTRATION TO GET RAS ARRESTED WITH INNUSAH FUSIENI FOR BUGGING THEIR GOVT OFFICES AND CARS PRIOR TO LEAVING OFFICE. THESE NDC GUYS THINK THEY'RE BETTER THAN ANYBODY RIGHT???? FUCKINGGGGG NORTHERNERS WHO COME TO THE SOUTH TO LEARN CIVILISATION AND WANTS TO LAUD OVER US. SIAAAAAAAAFUOOOOOOOOOOO... GO BACK TO NORTH AND BUILD YOUR TOWNS AND VILLAGES, YOU STINKINGGGGGGG NORTHERNERS! MMOAAAAAAAAAAAA 3NY3 NWURAM NA MUGU????
This cr!m!nal Ras Mubarak also bugged his official car with a tracking device without informing anybody at NYA.... When it was found out by his successor he confessed but refused to at least apologise...... There are a lot of cr!m!nals in our parliament. Goa and apologise for bugging your official car. f.00.0lish loud mouth boy you are not fit to be in parliament.
...But what Mr. Sydney Casely-Hayford said is true. Who doesn't know that Gh parliamentarians are a bunch of cr!m1nals calling themselves honorable? Who doesn't know they collect bribes before considering bills? Who doesn't know majority of the parliamentarians don't read the documents they are supposed to read before sitting? Ghana parliamentarians are corrupt and the country is wasting money on them! They should stop using their little power to bully citizens who tells the truth and used that power to help develop their constituencies
He has apologized for his comments and realistically that is the only thing he can do under the circumstances. He cannot take back his words. To say his apology will not save him : save him from what? What worst does Ras Mubarak want done to Caseley Hayford than have him apologize for his comments which he has gracefully done? In the unlikely event he is invited to the floor of parliament it is the same apology he is going to render and we dont expect anything worst to happen to him! The people elected you to go and represent them and not sit there with the attitude of vengeance or use that high office of parliament to intimidate the people who put you there! Mubarak should remember that the office of parliament is an elected office and its real power is vested in the people just like true democracy. Now back to the substantive issue.There is no denying the fact that Ghana parliament has lost respect as an institution as a result of recent events: appointments committee bribery scandal, National lottery brouhaha and a hosts of others which have not found their way into the public domain.Whilst his comments were inappropriate the need and call for parliament to do more to salvage its integrity and work in the interest of the people cannot be entirely dismissed. There are reputational challenges if the recent scandals are anything to go by. If you make laws you must apply the law first to yourselves and work towards fulfillment of the people's mandate that sent you to parliament.
My ex President Mahama, whom I admire so much was insulted and called all sorts of names including corrupt by some of these Parliamentarians. No body defended him. Casely also called him all sort of names too, and now has gone overboard with Parliamentarians. Kettle called the pot black and today hell iis going to break loose. I laugh enter kitchen
We should desist from this kind of sayings and move forward as a nation. If Casley-Hayford has apologised, let the August house accept it and move forward. Dragging people to the house for their utterances, in my opinion is a misuse of time. Look at the number of bills at stake, plus unexpected items to be discussed, please. We should mean business than to leave room derogatory comments.
What will you do to him? cr!m1nals calling themselves honourable.... collecting bribes before considering bills. Most of you are not fit to be in parliament. Go and burn the sea.... Ghana parliamentarians are corrupt.... We are wasting our money on you guys.
If this will not save him, what are you going to do to him? Is not the parliament a concert party house? The truth always hurts! Tell this to Kennedy Agyapong!
You people deserve more insults that when Mr. Hayford said
This little runt of an MP is a real ars3- hole. There is no doubt that there are many of his type who are not fit to occupy the august house.There are 3 arms of government. Why is it that anytime anything harsh is said about parliament and the judiciary the culprit is dragged before the 2 bodies with the speed of lightning. What about the Executive. What hasn't been said about our presidents, ministers etc. Parliament should focus on doing their duty which they seriously flunked during the last administrations tenure, This has resulted in Ghana being saddled with many bad deals and ***barred word*** agreements.