Those inviting me to the Privileges Committee are jokers - Kofi Wayo

Charles Kofi Wayo         Maverick politician Charles Kofi Wayo says he is unfazed by threats of being hauled before the Privileges Committee of Parliament for describing the house with disparaging words. The leader and founder of the defunct United Renaissance Party says those championing that action are only "jokers". Mr. Kofi Wayo is reported to have described on Republic Day, July 1, 2010 members of Ghana’s law-making body as a bunch of self-seeking individuals who are mostly criminals. When Parliament met on Monday, former Western Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Amenfi West Constituency, Joseph Boahen Aidoo tabled a motion to ask Mr. Wayo to appear before the house, a motion which was referred to the Privileges Committee by the Speaker. When he spoke on Asempa Today, Mr. Kofi said he was shocked by the reactions from the MP’s, asking whether the members of the legislature are above criticisms or they are dictators. He said democracy gives every Ghanaian the right to criticize persons in authority and has therefore not committed any crime. He indicated that he would be prepared to meet the Privileges Committee anytime he is called to do so. “The parliament itself is a useless place, the people there don’t need to be there, they don’t! They are criminals a lot of them in there," he had said on Citi FM as guest of a programme; Point Blank. "There is a Catherine Afeku there, she has been to court and a judge has found her guilty (and under protests by her host not to malign anybody, Wayo insisted he has documents to prove his claim)… nobody sacks her; a few weeks ago you have this guy, what’s the name, what’s that guy’s name, some MP guy, he got involved in a gold scam; right, so why don’t parliament sack them? Eh, eh, Amoateng, he’s been arrested for cocaine, what has parliament said? Have they thrown him out? He’s been convicted, ha? The former Speaker (of Parliament) allegedly stole a lot of things, where is he? But Ataa Ayi, what did he steal before he is in jail? The big men don’t go to jail…” Mr wayo said last week. Mr. Wayo told Asempa News when ordinary persons are involved in criminal matters they are sentenced to various prison sentences and for that matter when an MP is found to have misconducted himself, that MP must be shown the exit to serve as a deterrent. He describes those Members of Parliament asking for him to be hauled before the Privileges committee as "jokers". Kojo Asare-Baffour Acheampong/Asempa 94.7fm