Category: Uncategorized

The second deputy Majority whip, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah has revealed that the Member of Parliament for Agona West Mamle Cynthia Morrison and Suhum Kwadjo Asante were in Parliament on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, after the Supreme Court served Parliament with a court process of stay of execution.

According to him no one from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has sent a letter to the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin that the two are no more members of the party.

In an interview he noted that the two are members of the 8th Parliament, if they have served intentions to go as independent candidates into the next Parliament which is the 9th Parliament that should not affect them in the current 8th parliament.

And pointed out that the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business had discussions with them but was quick to point out that the discussion was not conclusive yet as to whether if they will step down from going independent.

“I believe they belong to the elephant family and at the end of the day appeal from the leaders and elders of the party, let us give them sometime probably they will yield to the appeal”, he noted.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Two Members of Parliament from the governing New Patriotic Party, Kwadwo Asante, and Cynthia Morrison have both denied they have rescinded their quest to contest as independent candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Speculations were rife on social media since yesterday after the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin adjourned the House sine die that the two representing Suhum and Agona West Constituencies respectively, and happened to be among the four seats declared vacant by the Speaker for filing to contest as independent candidates have decided to reconcile with their mother party thereby withdrawing their candidature as going independent.

Speaking on Onua TV Maakye programme with Captain Smart, the Suhum MP, Kwadwo Asante, denied ever taking such a decision; and instead affirmed that he is still in the race.

He revealed that “Annor Dompreh removed me from the Majority Caucus WhatsApp platform because I was going independent.

Immediately the Speaker of Parliament gave the ruling, the same Annor Dompreh quickly added me when the Supreme Court ruled on the stay application. Annor Dompreh thinks he is smart. When he added me back to the WhatsApp platform, I decided not to speak until I saw the fake news that I have decided not to go independent again. It is not true. I am the independent candidate in Suhum”.

Cynthia Morrison also denied on TV3 Evening news that such decision had been taken, adding she is still in the race.

The NPP needs superior numbers in parliament to avert the stalemate that currently characterized the legislature as they have been pushed into the Minority having lost three members to the Speaker’s ruling.

Ghanamps.com

The National Democratic Congress caucus in parliament has expressed satisfaction with the Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin’s handling of the stalemate in parliament over the shift in power.

The Speaker on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 adjourned the House indefinitely citing the current circumstances; the fact that there is a question on the composition and constitution of parliament, and having regard for the public interest, and the exigencies of the state of affairs in parliament.

Dr. Ato Forson, the new Majority Leader hailed the Speaker for his decision, adding that parliament can reconvene after the election in December to pass the estimate in advance of appropriation before the first of January.

Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda who affirmed the position of the their leader said the Rt. Hon. Speaker, being a statesman and a matured seasoned politician, and one of the senior citizens of the land, couldn’t have done any better to salvage the situation.

According to him, the Speaker called the two sides earlier and informed them that having received the ruling from the Supreme Court and the public support each side was getting, he foresaw chaos and doesn’t want that to happen, and would thus adjourn the House indefinitely.

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim said the break would allow for the two sides to engage various stakeholders to ensure they reach an agreement that would avert any further confusion in the House.

Ghanamps.com

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin has adjourned the House sine die.

The Speaker, who presided over a one sided National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of parliament seated at the Majority side of the House acknowledged receipt of the Supreme Court ruling, but did not however, specify whether he was adhering to it or not.

Thus, the dilemma of which side is in the Majority and vice versa still lingers on.
What he was however emphatic about was the fact that the House has the numbers to transact business but not enough to take decisions.

According to him, having consulted the leadership of the two sides, he has taken the decision to adjourn the House sine die in the interest of the country.

“In view of the current circumstances, the fact that there is a question on the composition and constitution of parliament, and having regard for the public interest, and the exigencies of the state of affairs in parliament, I will proceed to in accordance with standing orders 59 adjourn the house indefinitely, that is sine die”, he stated.

It is worth of note that the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament had vacated the House prior to the commencement of proceedings.

Ghanamps.com

Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin said his side will not give that lawless platform that their colleagues in the Minority National Democratic Congress who are seeking when they occupied the Majority side of the House on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, after the Speaker declared four seats vacant.

“We will not give them that theater they so aggressively seek to disrupt democracy and to destroy our nation. We know there are innocent people out there, Ghanaians going about their business, innocent Ghanaians’ who are working to get three square meals on the table of their families, we care about them”.

And we understand that there is politics, but we should do it civilly, we believe the appropriate thing is to leave the chamber for them and wait upon Mr. Speaker, the court ruling was directed at Parliament and the Speaker not an individual MP, he added.

Briefing the press as they walked out of the chamber, he noted that yesterday, parliament was served with the Supreme Court Service, “we were not disrespectful of the chair when he made his pronouncement, and we disagree with the Speaker, we did not course commotion in the House”.

“And we left and made Speaker aware that the right place to express those grievances is the Supreme Court, so we expect our brother and sisters on the NDC Minority side to do the needful. But all we need from the Speaker is to make a final determination; the nation is looking up to Mr. Speaker, all his years in politics.

“This is a crucial moment for him to add weight to what we have done to preserve the peace, NPP is for peace, and we will not allow anybody to disturb the peace of the country. It’s a notorious fact that we maintain the Majority side of this parliament you should add your voice for our colleague to respect the law”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Tensions high as Ghana’s democracy face another test Ghana’s democracy will come under intense scrutiny today, Tuesday, October 2024 when parliament resumes after the Supreme Court’s ruling setting aside Speaker Bagbin’s declaration of four seats vacant.

Since Friday, there had been some uneasy atmosphere in the country following the decision of the Supreme Court.

Public opinion about the Supreme Court’s ruling has not been favourable to the Apex Court of the land with many criticizing them for setting the stage for chaos, mostly because many believe they do not have jurisdiction over what they did.

Will it be a show of power play or there will be some compromise? It is unclear what today’s sitting holds as there is no sign any of the sides in parliament is ready to engage.

With both sides taking entrenched position of being in the Majority in parliament, the whole country is looking up to the decision of the Speaker to settle matters.

Will the Hon. Speaker bow to the directive from the Supreme Court, or will he affirm his earlier ruling that declared the four seats vacant?

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Service having gaged the atmosphere of the country, has tightened security at the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre, where parliament currently conducts sittings following ongoing renovation works.

Ghanamps.com

The Parliamentary Service has issued statement detailing security measures for Tuesday, October 22, 2024 proceedings in parliament.

The measure according to the Parliamentary Service is to ensure the safety and security of the Hon. Speaker, Members of Parliament, staff and the media who would be allowed into the chamber.

Read below the full directive from the Parliamentary Service.

Ghanamps.com

The Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has revealed that a true copy of the Supreme Court’s order freezing Speaker Bagbin’s decision that declared four seats vacant has been served the Legal Department of Parliament this afternoon, Monday, October 21, 2024.

“Like I said, NPP we use brain work, we do not fight; we are not going to organize people to storm Parliament, make noise with holding placards. Let the law works so that there can be peace in Ghana”.

According to him the Legal Director of Ghana’s Parliament, Nana Tawiah Okyere received the bailiff and he has been informed by the bailiff from the Supreme Court in a video posted on his Facebook account.

“At long last Parliament has subjected itself to court processes, and has taken service. We look forward to Parliament respecting the orders of the Supreme Court; that is the good”.

As to what this means, he noted that there is no controversy again, the court has ruled that its orders be served on Parliament and upon being served Parliament should file its defense within seven days.

Again, Parliament so far has shown that it is law abiding from its conduct this afternoon compared to last week when it said that the director of legal was not ready to receive service now, he has willingly received service. “It was not thrown at him, he has received it, sign for it; that is the beauty of democracy; something positive is working somewhere, let see how it goes”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

In the wake of the stalemate over which of the political parties is in the Majority following the declaration of four seats vacant by the Speaker, and the subsequent directive from the Supreme Court to halt the action of the Speaker, Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza has alleged that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is planning to deploy the military to the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre where parliament is currently operating from.

This, he said, when actualized on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, the people of Ghana will meet the military and police very forcefully.

Responding to questions after a press briefing in parliament on Sunday, October 20, 2024, Mr. Agbodza said MPs only respect the ruling of the Speaker; and added that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in parliament have not heard the pronouncement of the Supreme court, thus insisted they are now the Majority per the ruling of the Speaker.

When Ghanamps.com asked whether the, “current eighth Parliament which started with a fight will end its lifespan with a fight, the Adaklu Member of Parliament recounted that at the start of the lifespan of the eighth Parliament, it was the government who ordered the military to enter the chamber, and they came in to assault members, and added that a motion has been filled on this.

“We know those individuals involved; we have details of them and what they did in the chamber is not yet sun set on. If they repeat the same misconduct, the people of this country are sovereign, if you wear a military or police uniform, you work with the constitution, the life of this government is less than two months; they will have to account for their conduct. The people of this country will react forcefully to any misconduct of anybody on Tuesday and beyond”, he emphasised.

Meanwhile, the now Majority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson noted that they will not fight on Tuesday, October 22, 2024; they will only fight against corruption, and we will not fight among ourselves on the floor of the House, but we will protect the constitution, nothing more.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Mr. Mahama Ayariga, the member of Parliament for Bawku Central said they (NDC Majority are not aware of any law or constitutional provision that allows anybody to suspend a decision by the Speaker of parliament properly constituted.

“What we know under Article 2 of the Constitution and Article 130 of the constitution, the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to make a declaration as to whether or not an act is consistent or inconsistent with a provision of the constitution. But to suspend a decision of parliament or a directive of the Speaker in parliament, we are not aware of the legal basis of a conduct like that”, he stated.

This notwithstanding, he said parliamentarians act on the basis of communication from the Speaker, and not rely on the media or record of proceedings from any court on social media; and so if any communication from the Speaker says we should walk into the sea, we walk into the sea because we listen only to the Speaker and nobody else in relations to the integrity, legality and appropriateness of what has happened in the chamber of parliament.

Mr Ayariga was responding to questions from the media during a press briefing on Sunday, October 20, 2024, in parliament on whether or not the new NDC Majority would abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling on the four seats that had been declared vacant by the Speaker of parliament.

Ghanamps.com