The Minority caucus in parliament says it is expecting appropriate sanction to be meted against Ms Victoria Emeafa Hardcastle, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, over her altercation with Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin has resolved to hear representations from both parties on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
Ahead of that, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmakers have served notice of their expectations.
They either look forward to her being fined, imprisoned, restricted from parliamentary precincts, or rendering a mandatory public apology to deter others.
“We expect that the appropriate sanctions under our Standing Orders,” the leadership of the Caucus said in a press statement issued a day after the incident.
“We anticipate that Friday’s report or ruling by the Speaker will send an unmistakable message of deterrence to all public officials and indeed any person who might contemplate similar contemptuous conduct in the future.”
The group condemned the action of the government appointee as “reprehensible and contemptuous”, adding that it represents “one of the most flagrant attacks” on parliamentary dignity.
“Ms Hardcastle’s attempt to direct the Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Frank Annor-Dompreh, on the execution of his parliamentary duties, coupled with her unconscionable description of a senior Member of Parliament as “silly”, constitutes an egregious assault on parliamentary authority that cannot go unchallenged. Such conduct strikes at the very foundation of our democracy and must be met with the full force of parliamentary sanctions.”
It maintained that Hardcastle’s conduct represents an intolerable breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt of the House; Parliament must send a clear message such contempt won’t go unpunished; and Public officials must understand that interaction with Parliament and its Members demands the highest standards of decorum and respect.
