News:
October 18, 2024
The New Patriotic Party that until Thursday October 17, 2024 controlled parliament as the Majority with the support of the only independent Member of Parliament has refused to accept their ordeal of becoming the Minority.
The current fate of the ruling party was occasioned by Thursday’s ruling of the Speaker on the petition brought before him by Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South urging the Speaker to declare some seats vacant.
The Speaker affirmed the request and declared the four seats;
1. Hon. Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, MP for Amenfi Central Constituency, Western Region (NDC)
2. Hon. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, MP for Fomena Constituency, Ashanti Region (Independent)
3. Hon. Kwadjo Asante, MP for Suhum Constituency, Eastern Region (NPP)
4. Hon. Cynthia Morrison, MP for Agona West Constituency, Central Region (NPP) vacant.
Unfortunately, the NPP would have none of this as they vowed to use every legal means possible to have the decision of the Speaker annulled.
The NPP in parliament in a statement after the ruling accused the Speaker of playing into the broader agenda to alter the numbers and give the NDC the upper hand to control the House.
This, they said was evident in the hasty manner Dr. Ato Forson, the Minority Leader proclaimed their NDC’s Majority status at the beginning of this meeting.
” The ruling, in effect attempts to unconstitutionally reconfigure the composition of parliament, potentially shifting the balance of power in the House through extra-legal means. It is worth noting that while the ruling affects members from both sides of the aisle, it disproportionally impacts the Majority, raising serious questions about its impartiality and motivations”.
As such the Majority has declared that they will “take every lawful action necessary to resist and defeat this unconstitutional conduct by the Speaker. We are committed to taking all steps required to restore the constitutional order that has been sought to be subverted in Parliament”.
Additionally, they called upon the Supreme Court to hear and determine the case brought before it by the Majority Leader with the utmost urgency; stating that the stability of our democracy and the integrity of our parliamentary processes hang in the balance due to the Speaker’s unconstitutional conduct.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com