Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin says efforts are ongoing to settle Kennedy Agyapong’s alleged contempt case outside the long processes at the Privileges Committee. 

According to him, steps have been taken by the leadership of the Majority in Parliament to extensively engage Kennedy Agyapong after the alleged threats he issued against Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor.

“I have received very positive responses from him and I have no doubt in my mind that steps would be taken to deal with the matter appropriately so that there wouldn't be the need to go into that long haul [of the Privileges Committee],” he said.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on Tuesday referred Mr. Agyapong to the committee for calling for the beating of Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor. 

This was after Mr Agyapong, on July 9, was reported to have verbally abused and threatened to attack Mr Asare Donkor, “for the journalistic work that the latter undertook during the recent shootings and killing incident at Ejura” on Net 2 TV, a television station owned by the MP.

The politician was filmed on a live programme which was widely published on social media platforms, stating that, “if he [Mr Agyapong] were President, he would have ensured that Erastus Asare Donkor is beaten mercilessly.”

Following his actions, The Multimedia Group has filed a formal complaint against the Assin Central legislator, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong for threatening the life of one of its journalists, Erastus Asare Donkor.

MP for Tamale North, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini drew the attention of the House to the said matter and he moved for the motion that the Assin Central MP be investigated for his recent actions.

However, Mr Afenyo Markin speaking on the floor of the House on Friday said that the Privileges Committee is yet to begin sitting explaining that it is yet to receive the referral letter from the Speaker.

“So, I just needed to assure the house of these steps that have been taken by the leadership of the majority. We want to work together and the media is not an enemy.

"We are not enemies to ourselves, sometimes we slip. What is important is for us to take steps to remedy or resolve when these things happen. We are all human,” he said.

Meanwhile, North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also on the floor of Parliament, said the minority rejects Mr Markin’s plea for an “out of Privileges Committee settlement.”

“Under what standing orders is he serving this notice to the house? Please if you want to plead for your client come properly and go and do that at the committee.”

“But don't say that we would not have to go through that long process. Who has complained about the process?”

Mr Ablakwa stated that it is important Mr Agyapong appears before the committee, so an impression that the Assin Central MP is above the committee is not created in the minds of people.

“He must go there and ensure that the decision of this house and speaker is respected,” he added.