Casely-Hayford has been cited for a possible contempt of Parliament after he said at a programme that Ghana’s Parliamentarians make “stupid decisions” and that he would have demolished it and turned it into a tourist site if given the chance.

He has subsequently apologized explaining that he didn’t mean to attack Parliament and that he went “over the top.”

“I indeed went over the top, I do apologize for that. I used some language which I supposed I should not have used. I unreservedly apologize because in matured 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 apologize sincerely, I have no reservation doing that,” he said on Eyewitness News.

[contextly_sidebar id=”d2DxYWISGvvSCRGPulh69II7SjQYTpFL”]But the Member of Parliament for the Kumbungu constituency, Ras Mubarak, who drew the Speaker of Parliament’s attention to Casely-Hayford’s comments described the apology as “weak.”

“It’s a very weak attempt to water down the impact of the sort of very outrageous things he said. A person with his pedigree and stature shouldn’t be making sweeping comments, very derogatory comments, comments that impugn the reputation of parliament. And I think he knew what he was doing. Again the suggestion that we should break down Parliament; that is like encouraging vandalism, he fumed.

Ras Mubarak insisted that, Casely-Hayford’s comments were meant to “impugn the integrity of Parliament and I’m sure he was excited when he was getting all the applause.”

“I see what he is doing now is an attempt to water down what he said. The most important thing is that it’s been raised on the floor of Parliament. We are hoping that leadership will deal with it with a lot of alacrity so that tomorrow people will respect the integrity and authority of Parliament,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Sydney’s apology to Parliament ‘weak’ – Ras Mubarak appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I indeed went over the top, I do apologize for that. I used some language which I supposed I should not have used. I unreservedly apologize because in matured 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 apologize sincerely, I have no reservation doing that,” he added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jXSGjAU89Cx20goYkHD5N0OML0Hbed7g”]Casely-Hayford has been cited for  contempt of Parliament for saying Ghana’s Parliamentarians make “stupid decisions” and would have turned the House into a tourist site if he has the power.

The Member of Parliament for the Kumbungu constituency, Ras Mubarak who called on the Speaker of the House to haul Casely-Hayford before the House over the claim insisted that the comments impugn the integrity of Parliament and must not be swept under the carpet.

But speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, a remorseful Casely-Hayford said his comments were not to attack Parliament but he was instead advocating for a decentralized law making house.

“I was giving a talk on the best government practices for development in Africa. We were discussing the issue and I suggested that what we could do was to dissolve the single parliament arrangement that we have and instead have ten regional parliaments where each parliament will perfectly take care of their own areas. So this is what the conversion went. I’m saying so, I deed went over the top, I do apologise for that. I used some language which I supposed I should not have used. But it was a very interesting engaging conversion and certain words came out that did not need to come out during the time. But it was not about this Parliament but it was about the processes that we go through in order to arrive at development in Africa.”

“I think that the article that came out was a little misconstrued in the way it was presented so it made it look like I was insulting parliament. There is no reason why I will call for a dissolution of Parliament and suggest that we have ten,” he explained.

Apology can’t save you now

But Ras Mubarak also speaking on the Eyewitness News said the apology may not save Casely-Hayford.

“Sydney Casely-Hayford knew what he was doing when he made the comments. I think Sydney’s intent was to impugn the integrity of Parliament and I’m sure he was excited with the applause. A person of the stature of Sydney’s shouldn’t be making such sweeping comments. It’s a very weak attempt by Sydney to water down the outrageous comments he made,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post ‘I went over the top; I’m sorry’ – Casely-Hayford to Parliament appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Casely-Hayford who is noted for his frankness on topical issues, is reported to have said Members of Ghana’s Parliament make “stupid decisions.”

Mr. Casely-Hayford who is also a financial analyst is further reported to have said at a summit on “The Economic and Political Rise of Africa” that Ghana would have been better off without Parliament and if given the chance he will “break down” the law-making house and turn it into a tourist site.

[contextly_sidebar id=”05uXNJ1tPUS3yPzxVfBGpDkr9rLvNwpa”]“These people are sitting there, spending money like crazy, making stupid decisions, and passing stupid laws. They don’t read the papers that they are given, they don’t think through what the challenges are…The first thing I will do if I had the opportunity is to break down parliament. We don’t need it. Maybe if we break it down we are wasting money but maybe we can use it as a tourist attraction, we can say, this is what we used to do in the past, so come for a tour and then we should just poster it all so people can see,” he reportedly said.

Unhappy about Casely-Hayford’s comments, the Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak on Thursday called on the Speaker of the House to haul the anti-corruption campaigner before the House to justify the claims.

Meanwhile, the First Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei Wusu who chaired the session referred the matter to the leadership of the House for consideration.

“I have a news report with caption: Ghanaian MPs only make stupid decisions and pass stupid laws by Sydney Casely-Hayford. Mr. Speaker in the said story the gentleman by name Mr. Sydney Casely-Hayford is reported and there is an accompanying video to the story where he is seen and heard making comments that affronts the dignity of this honourable House. Mr. Speaker not only are his comments an attack on the integrity of all members of Parliament, past and present but if one were to stretch it, it even borders on promoting  hatred and vandalism when he talks about breaking down parliament. Mr. Speaker we have a duty to defend and honour the integrity of this House.”

“Mr. Speaker if this nation cannot honour Members of Parliament, then we must not sit down for people to abuse both past and present members of Parliament who have and or are working tirelessly or striving for the best interest of the ordinary Ghanaians. The gentleman has indicted all of us here and those before us,” Ras Mubarak added.

Ras Mubarak further argued that if Casely-Hayford’s claims are swept under the carpet, “it will set a very bad precedent and create more room for people to impugn the reputation of members of this house.”

“So Mr. Speaker I wish therefore to call on this honourable house to call the gentleman to appear before the house to answer contempt charges,” he added.

Persons cited for contempt of Parliament

Parliament has in the past hauled several persons including radio personality, Blakk Rasta, Mark Anthony Vinorkor, a Daily Graphic reporter for contempt of the House.

Prof. Alex Dodoo, a lecturer at the School of Medicine and Dentistry of the University of Ghana was also summoned to appear before Privileges Committee for allegedly attacking members of Parliament (MPs) over a suspended Ebola vaccine trial.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Casely-Hayford cited for possible contempt of Parliament appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.