NPP accuses Speaker of bias over ruling on vacant seats, boycotts Parliament indefinitely
Accra, Ghana - October 17, 2024 - Ghana's parliamentary proceedings was thrown into chaos after Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin announced an indefinite boycott by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus.
This drastic move follows Speaker Alban Bagbin's decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, citing constitutional provisions.
The affected MPs - Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena) - had decided to contest the upcoming 2024 elections as independent candidates or under the NPP ticket. By doing so, they have effectively vacated their parliamentary positions, according to Bagbin's ruling.
This development has significantly altered the balance of power in Parliament, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) now holding 136 seats compared to the NPP's 135. The NDC has become the majority caucus, much to the dismay of Afenyo-Markin and the NPP.
Afenyo-Markin, visibly dissatisfied with the Speaker's decision, led the NPP MPs in a walkout. He accused Bagbin of aligning with the NDC and bypassing proper legal procedures in serving the writ.
Despite the boycott, Afenyo-Markin emphasized the NPP's commitment to upholding the law but vowed to resist what he described as politically biased decisions.
"We as the Majority caucus immediately are boycotting parliament until this matter is determined by the Supreme Court," Afenyo-Markin stated. "The speaker has no right to interpret the constitution, and it is so clear that what he did was to give an advantage to the NDC and do the bidding of the NDC."
“We are not going further to litigate. We have a process at the court, we will follow it up. If the court makes a pronouncement we will respect the orders of the court.”
The NPP had filed an urgent legal action with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, October 15, seeking clarification on the constitutional crisis surrounding the MPs' decision to run as independent candidates or under the NPP ticket.
Source: Lead News Online
