By: Belinda Nketia
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called on the Member of Parliament responsible for referring to Dr. Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings as “the daughter of a murderer” to apologise before ongoing investigations reveal their identity.
Speaking in Parliament on March 4, 2025, he condemned the remark as deeply offensive, reckless, and unjustifiable, and said that such language was incompatible with the standards of civility and mutual respect that Parliament must uphold.
Speaker Bagbin said a formal investigation has commenced to identify the MP behind the comment.
Once determined, the matter will be referred to the Committee of Privileges and the Committee on Ethics and Standards for further deliberation, as per the parliamentary standing orders.
“I’ll advise the member responsible for the remark to, within a week, choose the path of honesty and opt for a plea bargain,” he said.
“I take a very serious view of the matter, and failure to take advantage of this window of opportunity to apologise will lead to dire consequences if finally unravelled,” Bagbin stated.
In his address, Speaker Bagbin also reminded parliamentarians of the importance of upholding the dignity of the institution.
“We must uphold the dignity and majesty of Parliament and not be enslaved in our past most of which has been misrepresented,” he said.
The speaker further explained that, while members of Parliament in some circumstances may enjoy immunity for statements made on the floor of Parliament, this privilege is not absolute. He urged MPs to exercise their freedom of speech responsibly and in accordance with parliamentary rules.
“Parliament is a place for constructive debate, guided by principles of mutual respect and integrity. There is no room for language that seeks to offend, abuse, insult, demean, defame, or blaspheme in this House,” Speaker Bagbin noted.
The Speaker also issued an apology to Dr. Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings, her family, the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, and the people of Anlo land for the indignity caused by the offensive remark.
The incident involving the offensive remark occurred during parliamentary proceedings on February 4, 2025, when an unnamed MP referred to the Klottey Korley Member of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyemang Rawlings, as “the daughter of a murderer”.
