Professor Alex Dodoo will Tuesday defend comments he made on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show which allegedly attacked the integrity of MPs over the failed Ebola vaccines trial in Hohoe.

The WHO scientist and Lecturer at the School of Medicine and Dentistry of the University of Ghana will appear with host of the programme, Kojo Yankson.

Mr Yankson will be a witness at the proceedings, which is expected to start at 10:00am.

Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, referred the matter to the Privileges Committee after some legislators said the Professor’s comments about them were offensive.

The acclaimed scientist in an interview on the Super Morning Show last month urged Parliamentarians to apologize to Ghanaians for their uninformed and ignorant assertions about the Ebola vaccines trial.

Prof. Dodoo had said it was embarrassing that MPs were asking elementary questions on the floor of the House including whether the trial had been done on mice and chimpanzees when they are expected to know that the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has been mandated by the same Parliament to undertake such trials.

The Professor’s comments followed MPs disquiet about the intended exercise which they say had not been adequately explained to the residents of Ho, forcing the Health Minister, Alex Segbefia, to suspend the proposed vaccines trial.

MP for Ho West, Emmanuel Bedzrah, who filed the motion to invite the Professor, told Joy News the Prof Dodoo’s comments on the programme “compromised the integrity and sanctity of Parliament” and so must be made to explain himself.

Both sides of the House are in support of Mr Bedzah’s assertions.

Meanwhile, prior to an official invitation by the House, Professor Alex Dodoo, had said he will gladly face the Parliamentarians to defend his comments.

According to him an invitation by the legislators would be honoured “respectfully, happily and gladly”.

The proceedings in Parliament would be carried live on Joy 99.7 FM, with live updates on Myjoyonline.com.

Standing Orders

According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, a person could face the privileges committee for “any act or omission which affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly, or indirectly to bring the name of Parliament into disrepute”.

It continues that “in all cases of proceedings where complaints are made of a breach of privilege or contempt of Parliament, Mr. Speaker may direct that the matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges.

“(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Orders Mr. Speaker may refer any questions of privilege to the committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report”.