Parliament will continue without NPP, we will start implementing our manifesto - Ayine
Accra, Ghana - October 18, 2024 - Members of Parliament for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been urged by Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, to follow through on their commitment to boycott parliamentary proceedings.
This call comes after Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin announced the NPP's indefinite boycott of all parliamentary activities in protest of Speaker Alban Bagbin's ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
According to Ayine, the boycott will not hinder parliamentary business, which will continue as scheduled. The House is set to reconvene on October 22, with or without NPP MPs.
The Speaker's ruling has shifted the NPP's status from Majority to Minority due to the reduction in their numbers.
Ayine also revealed in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Friday, October 18 the National Democratic Congress's plan to abolish the electronic levy (e-levy) upon their return to Parliament.
He cited Article 108 of the Ghanaian Constitution, which allows private members to introduce bills to amend or repeal tax laws, enabling the NDC to dismantle the e-levy.
“Majoritarian determination is by numbers and we [NDC] have more numbers than them [NPP] and it is as clear as daylight. We are the Majority and they are the Minority. They [the four lawmakers] are no longer MPs and the marshals [of Parliament] have the right to prevent them from entering Parliament. Their chairs will be empty until the end of this Parliament.”
“We will sit, and we have more than half the members of Parliament on our side. We will start implementing our manifesto even on Tuesday, so they [the NPP] should stay off and we will go ahead and repeal the e-levy. Article 108 says that you can use private members’ bills to repeal tax legislation such as the e-levy.''
The Bolgatanga East MP warned that if the President continues to disregard certain matters, it could constitute high treason, prompting impeachment proceedings.
“The president cannot continue to disrespect certain things and if he refuses such things, they constitute high treason and we can begin impeachment proceedings against him,'' he added.
The affected lawmakers include Cynthia Mamle Morrison (NPP, Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (NPP, Suhum), Peter Kwakye-Ackah (NDC, Amenfi Central), and Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Independent, Fomena), who rejoined the NPP ahead of the 2024 elections.
Source: Lead News Online
