Financial Analyst Sydney Casely-Hayford’s denigrating comments about parliament could be attributed to treason according to Member of Parliament (MP)for the Kumbungu constituency, Ras Mubarak.
“If you want to stretch it he can be charged for treason. Some articles in the criminal code can be invoked and he can charge for it. Being a prolific writer does not give you the right to impugn the integrity of others to the extend you threaten to break down parliament house or turn it to a tourist centre”, he said on Accra-based Okay Fm.
According to him, the fact others have criticized parliament is not a panacea for people to denigrate members of the legislature.
“I have heard people say worst things in the past have been said about parliament and were not cited for contempt but why Sydney Casely-Hayford. I wish to tell them there is time for everything. If we do not begin to bite things will get out of hand. We need to change things for the better”, he stated
He disclosed that Sydney Casely-Hayford will be used as a test case for others to learn to respect parliament indicating that they are not averse to criticisms but will not tolerate needless attacks like in the case of Sydney Casely-Hayford
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.
Ras Mubarak has however called on the Speaker to haul Casely-Hayford before the House over the claim insisting that the comments impugn the integrity of Parliament and must not be swept under the carpet.
