Apology Not Enough, Kennedy Agyapong Must Be Punished – Suhuyini On Threats Against Luv FM Reporter [Audio]

Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North, Alhassan Suhuyini, has said that an apology, for inciting attacks against Luv FM journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor, from his colleague, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong will not be enough to repair the damage caused to the image of Parliament.

According to him, the Assin Central MP’s recent actions have damaged the reputation of Parliament, hence, Mr Agyapong has to be penalised.

“I am for some level of punishment, especially when he (Kennedy Agyapong) is not a first time offender. He is one who has been referred to the Committee before. The Committee did, indeed find him guilty, and recommended some sanctions, out of which the house had to decide on which sanction to apply.”

“Unfortunately the former Speaker of Parliament, Mike Oquaye never brought it up for the House to take a decision on the kind of punishment that was commensurate with the infraction that he was found guilty of, at the time. I am very certain that I am not the only one who holds this view,” Mr Suhuyini told Evans Mensah on Top Story, Friday.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on Tuesday referred Mr. Agyapong to the committee for calling for Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor to be beaten.

This was after Mr Agyapong, was reported to have verbally abused and threatened to attack Mr Asare Donkor, “for the journalistic work that the latter undertook during the recent shootings and killing incident at Ejura” on Net 2 TV, a television station owned by the MP on July 9.

The politician was filmed on a live programme which was widely published on social media platforms, stating that, “if he [Mr Agyapong] were President, he would have ensured that Erastus Asare Donkor is beaten mercilessly.”

Following his actions, MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini drew the attention of the House to the said matter and he moved for the motion that the Assin Central MP be investigated for his recent conduct.

However, Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin on July 16, said efforts are ongoing to settle Kennedy Agyapong’s alleged contempt case outside the long processes at the Privileges Committee.

According to him, steps have been taken by the leadership of the Majority in Parliament to extensively engage Kennedy Agyapong after the alleged threats he issued against Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor.

Meanwhile, Mr Suhuyini believes that even if the Assin Central MP apologises to the affected journalist, it will be up to the Privileges Committee to decide their next line of action and the fate of the MP.

“It will still be left to the committee to decide whether that conduct was a breach of his privilege as a member of Parliament and (if) it amounted to contempt of Parliament. I still hold the view that even after an apology, the damage done to the image of Parliament, would not have been appropriately cured.”

The Tamale North MP added that Kennedy Agyapong has to be “reigned in” to preserve the image and dignity of Parliament.