Sammy Gyamfi charged with contempt of Congress by the Privileges Committee

Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the Second Deputy Speaker, has deferred the decision on a move to summon Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer (NDC), to the Privileges Committee. 

Habib Iddrisu, the Tolon Member of Parliament moved on the floor to send Sammy Gyamfi to the Committee for making remarks he considered insulting of Parliament.

This is in response to Mr Gyamfi'scomments regarding the Akufo-Addo administration receiving the approval of some ministers. Mr Gyamfi condemned the handling of certain minister-nominees as a betrayal on his Facebook comments. 

The NDC had opposed three of the approvals; Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, minister-designate for Information; Hawa Koomson, Minister-designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture and Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture. 

His remarks singled out the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu; the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak and even the NDC-backed Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.

Mr Gyamfi stated, "They shamelessly rejected the party leadership and betrayed the collective good for their personal interests." 

In support of referring Sammy Gyamfi to the Committee, Habib Iddrisu referenced order 38 of Parliament's standing orders, which states that "the following act or behaviour shall constitute a breach of privilege or contempt of Parliament." 

Vincent Ekow Assafuah, a Tafo Pankorono MP, has advocated for a contempt citation against Mr Gyamfi before today. 

Mr Gyamfi's words, he added, were an attack on the Speaker of Parliament and Parliament as a whole.