The Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi and Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, has rejected the proposed Private Members’ Bill by the Majority caucus seeking to abolish the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

Sulemana emphasised that President John Dramani Mahama’s position should be seen as an expression of opinion rather than an attempt to control Parliament.

His comments come after President Mahama requested the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, and the Majority Chief Whip, Nelson-Rockson Dafeamekpor, to withdraw the bill against the OSP.

The First Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu, has stated that President Mahama has no authority to dictate to Members of Parliament on how to conduct their business in the House.

However, speaking to Citi News on Thursday, December 11, Sulemana said, “I strongly agree with the president that it is premature. And that is far from directing Parliament or directing the majority.

“If he had wanted to direct the majority, he could have quietly called a meeting and told them not to proceed. What he did was express his opinion. Let the minority, as usual, do their politics with it.”

He described the bill as an emotional reaction that the President is unlikely to entertain.

“You could see that there was some emotional reaction. He’s the president, and we all know he does not react to emotions. He is saying: don’t be emotional about this. Let us pause. If we think there’s a need for an in-depth analysis of the OSP’s impact so far, then we can take an informed decision. But to start by saying ‘let’s scrap it’ because of one incident is not right,” Sulemana added.

The MP called for a careful review of the OSP’s activities, free from emotion.

“Let us pause. Let us examine the details and find out whether the OSP is meeting its objectives. We should assess how much has been spent so far and the outcomes achieved. If it’s effective, why not continue? If it’s not, and we decide to scrap it, then we can make that decision,” he said.