NPP is now the minority, we will jealously protect our new majority status - Ato Forson
Accra, Ghana - October 20, 2024 - A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in Ghana's Parliament, as Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson vows to defend his caucus's majority despite a Supreme Court ruling temporarily blocking Speaker Alban Bagbin's declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant.
The controversy began when four sitting MPs announced their intention to run as independent candidates in the 2024 general elections, with Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Amoako Asiamah revealing plans to contest under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) banner. This would have shifted the balance of power, giving the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) a slim majority.
However, the Supreme Court intervened, unanimously ruling to stay the execution of Bagbin's declaration, effectively maintaining the current parliamentary numbers.
Undeterred, Dr. Ato Forson declared at a press conference on Sunday, October 20, that the Minority Caucus will "jealously guard" their position and refuse to back down. He emphasized their commitment to fair representation in Parliament.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson also announced plans to scrap contentious taxes, including the Electronic Transfers Levy (E-Levy) and betting taxes.
Dr. Ato Forson emphasized the NDC's commitment to reducing "nuisance taxes" and easing economic hardships caused by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government's policies. The E-Levy, introduced by the NPP, has sparked widespread dissatisfaction due to its adverse impact on transactions and economic activity.
“The effect of the Speaker’s declaration is that currently, we no longer have an independent member of parliament. The NPP has 135 members… This effectively utters the configurations of parliament significantly.
“The NPP group is now the minority caucus as defined in Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament. The minority caucus means members of the party or parties that have the second largest number of seats in parliament.
“The NDC MPs in parliament now constitute the majority caucus in this 8th Parliament. We will jealously protect our new majority status and we will not bow, retreat nor surrender our lawfully earned status,” he stated.
“It is also true that we will use our new majority to remove the betting tax and other nuisance taxes.”
“Already, this NPP government has made Ghana a high tax regime, and that is affecting the survival of businesses and the people. We assure you that we will use our new majority to protect businesses and the people of Ghana, as we have always maintained,” he added.
Source: Lead News Online
