Samuel Abu Jinapor writes on Tuesday’s incident in Parliament

At Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament, I raised serious and disturbing allegations concerning the alleged sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000. In my capacity as Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, I called for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to appear before Parliament and account for these allegations.

The Majority Leader objected to my intervention. However, I maintained that allegations of such gravity, already circulating in the public domain, cannot simply be ignored. They have serious implications for Ghana’s international reputation, the integrity of our diplomatic passports and the credibility of our institutions. As Ranking Member, I consider it my solemn duty to bring such consequential matters before Parliament, without fear or favour.

I owe this duty to Ghana, my constituents and the New Patriotic Party. The Rt. Hon. Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, subsequently directed me to withdraw the said statement. I have enormous respect for the Office of the Speaker and for Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin personally. That respect, however, does not diminish my constitutional and parliamentary responsibility to raise matters of grave national concern and demand accountability.

I am deeply grateful to my colleagues on the Minority side who stood firmly with me and walked out in solidarity when the Speaker directed that I be escorted out of the Chamber. Let me be clear: Respect for parliamentary authority and the pursuit of accountability are not mutually exclusive. I remain a disciplined, patriotic and respectful Member of Parliament, but equally a proud and committed member of the Mighty Minority, determined to hold the Government accountable, particularly in matters concerning our foreign affairs.

Accountability is non-negotiable! God bless our homeland Ghana.