Month: December 2024

Without any hint of who becomes the Speaker of the 9th Parliament of the fourth Republic which kicks start on January 7, 2025, Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin suggests that whoever may be decided on should come from within parliament.

He did not hide his desire to see the new government under John Mahama to allow the current Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin to continue in his current position.

According to him because the current Speaker is a former lawmaker, he was able to guide workings of the House with his experience. “We do not know if a new person is going to be appointed. Will they sack you with all you have done for them?” He queried.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin who was delivering his welcome message on the floor, the first meeting post the December 7, general elections noted that the NDC Minority cannot be predicted, and “if they decide to retain you, it will be the happiness of this House.
But if the new government decides to bring a new Speaker, the person should be from parliament; “we do not want an outsider, we want someone from within who understands the workings of the House”, he added.

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Minority Leader Dr. Ato Forson has said the incoming government led by former President John Dramani Mahama will not behave like the Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia led government but would be sensitive to the needs of Ghanaians.

He thanked Ghanaians for the confidence reposed in the opposition National Democratic Congress.

“They have shown that they can rise to the occasion when it is needed most, and I congratulate the NDC MPs for their dedication which has resulted in the unprecedented number of MPs”.

“We were able to snatch over fifty parliamentary seats from the ruling party; we have shown that it is possible to reduce the NPP Majority to ‘nkoko nkete nkete’; indeed ‘nkoko nkete nkete’ is possible”.

Again, our Majority would be a contest of ideas between the NDC supper majority and the mini micro NPP Minority. It was the people’s revolution against the government that is obsolete and insensitive.

Ghanaians have shown that they cannot be taken for granted and when it matters most they will boot out those in office. NPP has been booted out for its poor governance and mismanagement of the economy, arrogance of power and impunity.

It shows the political class should not take the people for granted and calls for reflection on the part of the political parties, he added.

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The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has expressed confidence in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) ability to stage a comeback in the 2028 general elections.

According to him NPP will rebuild and strengthen its position as a credible opposition. In his open remarks when parliament reconvened on Monday, December 16, 2024, he said the people of Ghana have spoken and given the NDC the mandate. “Our role in opposition is clear: to hold them accountable. “This victory is not eternal, and we expect them to govern with humility while we prepare for the next election.”

Mr. Afenyo-Markin highlighted the party’s determination to learn from its shortcomings, unite its ranks, and regain public trust. “We are optimistic that by 2028, Ghanaians will see the NPP as the better alternative. We’ll evaluate our errors, make necessary corrections, and come back stronger.”

He also pledged responsible opposition, emphasizing constructive engagement over chaos. “As a principled minority, we’ll focus on issue-based debates and demonstrate our credibility as a government-in-waiting,” he added.

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The Deputy Interior Minister and Gomoa Central (MP), Naana Eyiah Quansah, has dismissed social media rumours claiming she collapsed and was hospitalised after losing her seat in the recently concluded elections.

Speaking at a press conference, Naana Eyiah Quansah urged the public and the people of Gomoa Central to disregard the false information being circulated online.

The outgoing MP, who lost her seat to an independent candidate, expressed gratitude to the people of Gomoa Central for allowing her to serve in Parliament for two terms.

She also called on Ghanaians to maintain confidence in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), emphasising that it remains the only political party with policies designed to benefit the ordinary Ghanaian.

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Member of Parliament for Dome/Kwabenya Sarah Adwoa Safo said she gave the NPP Parliamentary candidate in the 2024 election Mike Oquaye Jr. the opportunity to lead hence her absence during the campaign period in Dome/Kwabenya.

The lawmaker was seen most of the time with the NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia during his tour.

In an interview following the resumption of Parliament on December 16, 2024 Adwoa Safo, the former Minister for Gender, Women and Social Protection, emphasized that her decision was to allow the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate Mike Ocquaye Junior the space to run his campaign.

Reflecting on her loss in the NPP primaries on January 27, Adwoa Safo clarified that she had already committed to supporting the national campaign of NPP flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

“After losing the primaries, I made it clear that I would focus on the national campaign. My influence and support remain strong, but I wanted to give my opponent the freedom to campaign without interference,” she stated.

Despite Oquaye Junior’s confidence in taking over the Dome-Kwabenya seat, the NPP lost the seat to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Faustina Elikplim Akurugu of the NDC won with 51,634 votes, narrowly defeating Ocquaye Junior, who secured 50,477 votes. However, Ocquaye has disputed the results, claiming the declaration was invalid.

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The First Deputy Speaker of the eighth Parliament of the Republic of Ghana Joseph Osei Owusu has admonished the media in Ghana to desist from creating needless controversies in Ghana.

According to him the Supreme Court has already ruled that the four persons in the eighth parliament, whose seats were declared vacant at a point, would have their tenure terminated in the next few weeks, hence parliament is no more confronted with that issue.

He was responding to the media prior to Monday, December 16, 2024 sitting when journalist wanted an idea of how far both sides have gone to resolve the controversy about which side is in the Majority and Minority.

The Majority Leader led by Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin and his colleagues occupies the right hand side of the Speaker with the Minority at the left side of the Speaker, he said.

“And if anyone insists that those four persons are no longer Members of Parliament let that person be bold about it, Cynthia Morrison is an MP so we are going to seat where we were since 2021 till date”.

On the issue of expectations on MPs attending to the House, he noted that some have lost elections, “you do not expect everybody to be here. Those who lost are demoralized; Parliament will not have full complement of the House”, he stated.

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Parliament will reconvene today, Monday, December 16, 2024 after the Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s failed request to have parliament reconvened ahead of the Saturday, December 7, 2024 general elections.

Pursuant to order 58 of the Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana, the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin gave notice that the seventh meeting of the fourth Session of the eighth parliament of the fourth Republic shall commence on Monday, the 16th of December 2024.

The Speaker’s rejection of recalling parliament earlier was simply that given the closeness of the elections barely 11 days, recalling members of Parliament would interrupt with their campaigns and that would not serve national interest.

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As announced by the Parliamentary board through the Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin earlier that due to breaks in the wiring of the chamber and the need to reconfigure the chamber, the grand arena of the Accra International Conference center has to be used for the meeting place of the House.

The seventh meeting of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament is currently underway at the grand arena with the main focus to prepare three months budget, for the smooth running of government before the new administration headed by the former president and now president-elect John Dramani Mahama takes over from the current New Patriotic Party led by Nana Akufo-Addo.

A visit by Ghanamps.com to the chamber block on Tuesday, December 16, 2024 witnessed very progressive work done to welcome the 9th Parliament with 276 members of Parliament.

The camber has been nicely painted, cables well laid awaiting fixing of microphones and chairs, which should be concluded by close of this week.

Workers were seen in the chamber working hard to finish up what is expected of them this week.

Meanwhile, a parliamentary museum has been completed adjacent the parliamentary press gallery and awaiting commissioning by the speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com