Author: Enestina GhanaMPs

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.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

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.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

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

Member of Parliament elect for Ho West Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah has thanked his constituents for returning him back to the 9th Parliament which starts on Tuesday, December 7, 2024 which is his fifth term.

According to him he was given close to eighty-four percent (84%) votes, saying it shows that his people love him and he is not taking it for granted, rather he is humbled.

In an interview in Parliament on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, he noted that Saturday, December 7, 2024 election is a verdict on the current administration’s performance in the sense that they have not done well at all; adding that in everything one does, “you take stock and you are given a verdict. The bible says a time is coming we will give account of the things we have done either good or bad”.
“If a Parliament of 276 and all you can do is getting less than one third of the MPs, it shows you have been rejected”.

When asked why it appears as though Ghanaian politicians do not learn from the mistake of others because in 2016 the mistakes of the NDC were the same mistakes committed by the NPP in 2024, he said “we are from the same breed, every politician; it is assumed that we are from the same mother. It is for us to learn, I have tasted power when I came to this House 2009. I have seen power twice and also endured opposition for two terms and I have seen a change of power again to my party, it is for us to learn from these mistakes”.

Again, the arrogance of power came to play and NPP should eat their own humble pie, wherever we have gone wrong we should let the people know that; it is the only way Ghanaians will forgive us.

And the promises we give we should be able to fulfill them, the major one being the 24hour economy. It is my expectation that this verdict given, we learn not to commit the same mistakes, even as we lose power in 2016 it did not go this way, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

A visit by Ghanamps.com to the chamber of Ghana’s Parliament, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, witnessed workers finishing up work in the chamber, the laying of cables has been completed with work on the carpet ongoing.

Per investigation done by Ghanamps.com work will progress through the night to ensure early completion for Monday’s sitting.

Minority chief whip Governs Kwame Agbodza on his part indicated that he cannot tell whether the chamber or Dome will be used, as it is too early to tell but more would be known by the close of the week.

Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin gave indication earlier that pursuant to Order 58 of the standing Orders of Ghana’s Parliament, the House would reconvene on Monday, December 16, 2024.

“The seventh meeting of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament of the fourth Republic shall commence on Monday, December 16, 2024”, a statement from the Speaker indicated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of deploying their supporters to pressure Electoral Commission (EC) officials into declaring some parliamentary results in their favour during the 2024 elections.

The General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Frimpong-Kodua, cited instances of alleged illegal declarations in constituencies including Ablekuma North, Dome-Kwabenya,
Okaikwei Central, Tema Central, Ahafo Ano North, Obuasi East, Ahafo Ano South West, Akwatia, Suhum, Fanteakwa North, Nsawam Adoagyir, Techiman South, and Aowin.

This claim was made during a press briefing on Wednesday, December 11, by the NPP’s General Secretary.

According to Mr Frimpong-Kodua, “the NDC deployed their men to, in some cases, force the hands of the Electoral Commission’s returning officers to declare results in their favour.”

This accusation follows the NPP’s significant loss of major parliamentary seats during the elections. The party secured 75 seats, while the NDC garnered a commanding 184 seats, reshaping the parliamentary landscape, with some seats still outstanding due to disagreements.

The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, further alleged that NPP parliamentary candidates and members faced intimidation and harassment.

He shared specific instances, including the situation in Abuakwa North, where the parliamentary candidate, Madam Ekua Afriye, reportedly endured a sleepless night as individuals stormed her residence searching for election pink sheets.

“Why is the NDC so interested in destroying evidence? Why are they capturing pink sheets to destroy them and set them ablaze?” Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned, adding that Madam Afriye had to flee her home for safety, with police intervention required to protect her.

In another instance, Mr Patrick Boamah, the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, reportedly faced threats at his residence over allegations that he possessed pink sheets.

Again, he noted irregularities in Tema Central, where the individual who purportedly declared the results for the NDC was not the designated returning officer.

“They [NPP] called somebody to declare the result when the rightful person, who had sworn an oath to be the returning officer, was bypassed,” he alleged.

The NPP leadership called on NDC’s presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, to intervene and ensure that his supporters act within the boundaries of democracy.

“This is not the democracy we have worked hard for,” Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed. The Majority Leader also called on the Electoral Commission to take immediate steps and reverse what he calls the “illegal declaration.”

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has called on the President Nana Akufo-Addo to halt the transition process until all Parliamentary results are fully declared by the Electoral Commission.

The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri’s appeal follows disputes over the declaration of several parliamentary results, including his constituency.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at the party’s office in Nsawam, Annoh-Dompreh criticized the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he described as irresponsible behaviour, calling for the establishment of a secure platform by the Electoral Commission to announce the remaining results.

“Let me appeal to the outgoing president Nana Akufo-Addo. We know he has set in motion a transition process as a matter of course. We want to appeal to the president: he who comes to equity must come with clean hands, so the transition process should be halted.

“His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo should halt the transition process, and John Dramani Mahama, president-elect, must show the same equity, must speak to his people, and we must ensure that all the other seats are declared duly by the EC before the transition process goes on,” he stated.

Annoh-Dompreh also described as totally false the accusations leveled against him about his involvement in the shooting incident at the Nsawam Adoagyiri Collation Center.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman in the Eastern Region, during a press conference, accused Annoh-Dompreh of shooting an observer, Richard Taboh, in the full glare of the public when confusion broke out at the collation centre.

Annoh-Dompreh, who denied shooting the young man, called on the leadership of the Ghana Police to institute a thorough investigation into the shooting incident.

Ghanamps.com

President Nana Akufo-Addo has congratulated president elect John Dramani Mahama after the electoral Commission Jean Mensah officially announced the result of the 2024 Presidential election and declared John Mahama as winner.

According to him he is committed to ensuring a seamless transfer of power on 7th January next year and looks forward working with the president elect and his team.

In a statement issued by the director of communications at the presidency Eugene Arhin in the spirit of collaboration the president invites the president elect for a meeting on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at the Jubilee House to initiate the transition process, as he remains committed to the principles of good governance and peaceful transition that will further strengthen Ghana’s reputation as a beacon of democracy in Africa.

President Akufo-Addo called on all Ghanaians to unit and work to consolidate democracy and the rule of law in Ghana.

He further congratulated the EC and Ghanaians for successful election that reflects the enduring strength of Ghana’s democracy.

He acknowledged the commitment and participation of all stakeholders which have ensured that the democratic process in Ghana remains credible and peaceful.

Ghanamps.com

The National Democratic Congress has put up a sterling performance in this year’s general election having garnered more than two-thirds majority in parliament.

The party successfully flipped a considerable number of constituencies known to traditionally belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Competitively, this is the first time the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is winning these seats after the 1992 parliamentary election which the NPP boycotted.

Thus since 1996 the NPP had held on to these seats winning with wide margins at every election.

Among these constituencies are:
Ayawaso Central
Okaikoi South
Tema West
Dome Kwabenya
Awutu Senya East
Assin Central
Secondi
Kwesimintsim
Asikado Ketan
Tarkwa Nsuaem
Sunyani East
Sunyani West
Dormaa East
Dormaa Central
Asutifi North
Nsawam Adoagyiri
Akwapim South
Lower West Akim
Adansi Asokwa
Ahafo Ano South East
Obuasi East.

Ghanamps.com

The National Democratic Congress, NDC will without doubt have absolute Majority in the ninth parliament come January 2025.

The December 7 parliamentary election has produced some interesting results, one that did not actually favour the ruling New Patriotic Party having lost quite a number of seats to the opposition NDC and parliamentary candidates.

Though the Electoral Commission is yet to release certified results from all the constituencies, provisional results indicates the national Democratic Congress in a comfortable position with about 185 seats.

When confirmed it would be a sharp departure from the numbers in the eighth legislature which was a hanged one.

The New Patriotic Party will be without the services of some experienced parliamentarians who have all been denied return to the legislature by their constituents. Among them include Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Nsawam /Adoagyiri; Andy Appiah-Kubi, Asante Akim North; Henry Quartey, Ayawaso Central; Kobina Tahir Hammond, Adansi Asokwa, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Ablekuma West; and a host of others.

The NDC has won all seats in about four regions including Volta, Upper East, Upper West, Oti, Savanna.

With NDC’s Presidential candidate, John Dramanai Mahama also emerging victorious, the party’s majority status in parliament will help the course of the government.

Stay tuned for more.

Ghanamps.com