The Minority caucus in Parliament on Tuesday, November 3, staged a walkout in protest after Speaker Alban Bagbin ordered the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, to leave the chamber following a heated disagreement over allegations of diplomatic passport sales.
The disagreement arose during a parliamentary discussion on the issuance of diplomatic passports, which are granted under the authority of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
During his contribution, Mr Jinapor alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for amounts ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, insisting that he had evidence to support the claim. He called for an investigation into the alleged practice.
However, the allegation was challenged by the Majority Leader, James Agalga, who demanded that the Damongo MP provide evidence or withdraw the statement.
Speaker Bagbin subsequently directed Mr Jinapor to substantiate his claim or retract it. The directive led to a tense exchange between the Speaker and the MP, who maintained his position despite repeated calls to comply.
Mr Jinapor eventually withdrew the allegation after the prolonged disagreement. However, Speaker Bagbin ordered the Marshal of Parliament to escort him out of the chamber, citing his failure to comply with the directive promptly.
The decision prompted the Minority caucus to stage a walkout in solidarity with their colleague, bringing further attention to the heated exchanges during the parliamentary sitting.
