Dress ‘properly’ or be sent out of the Chambers – Speaker warns MPs

Members of Parliament (MPs) have been reminded by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to dress properly as required by House rules.

Alban Bagbin announced during Friday’s sessions that MPs who do not follow the House’s dress code will be asked to leave.

He stated that offending legislators will not be allowed to contribute or make any submissions on the floor of Parliament.

“The dress code mandates and enjoins us to come to this house formally dressed. They used the term decent but some of the things I see you wearing are singlets and when you wear singlet into the house you are naked and therefore you have difficulties in catching the eye of the speaker.”

Alban Bagbin directed leaders on both sides of the House to ensure that their members are dressed properly before coming to the House.

“Leaders please pick up the role so that the proper thing is done, particularly the Whips that is why you are there. That is your area of focus to maintain discipline and order.”

“I have seen it for some days now, I will not recognize any naked person in this house, you will be seen as a stranger and you will be walked out of this house,” he iterated.

Meanwhile, the Speaker, announced his decision not to wear the cloak of the Speaker on regular sitting days.

This, he said is part of his resolve to change the dress code and code of conduct of parliamentarians. He said the cloak will be worn for ceremonial purposes.

His decision, he said is to promote made in Ghana attire and help the market for locally produced items.
“You may be seeing me more in traditional dresses. I may use that [the cloak] only for ceremonial occasions, which is what is in the literature of Ghana concerning that cloak and gown.”

“We also have to provide the market for our produce. We cannot always rely on what others manufacture and sell to us when we are capable of manufacturing even better ones,” the Speaker said.

Source: The Independent Ghana