By Edzorna Francis Mensah
Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Member of Parliament of Ghana for the Effutu Constituency, in the Central Region has called on Ghanaians to ignore the fact, that the NPP MPs now constitute the Minority Caucus in Parliament following the Speaker’s ruling.
At a News Conference in Parliament on implications and concerns following the ruling that declared four seats in parliament vacant thereby bringing the NPP number down by one, he described the ruling as “Political Machinations”, and they are deeply concerned that “this ruling may be part of a broader strategy to artificially alter the parliamentary majority, This suspicion is reinforced by the Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson’s hasty proclamation of his side as the new Majority in the immediate aftermath of the Speaker’s decision. Such actions represent a grave threat to the integrity of our Legislative process and the principle of fair representation”.
He said, the Speaker’s actions constitute what he called “subversion of the People’s Will”, and it is particularly alarming that “this maneuver appears to be a hurried attempt to steal the mandate of the Ghanaian people as decisively expressed in the December 2020 elections”.
He called on the Speaker to respect the democratic process and wait until December 2024 to test the NDC’s popularity at the polls, “certain elements seem intent on circumventing the will of the electorate through procedural manipulations. This blatant disregard for the people’s choice is not only unacceptable but also poses a dangerous threat to the very foundations of our democracy.”
On 17th October 2024, Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin declared four seats vacant affecting Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, Andrews Asiamah Amoako, Independent Member of Parliament for Fomena, Kwadjo Asante, Member of Parliament for Suhum, and Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Member of Parliament for Agona West in accordance with Order 93(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament and Article 97(1)(g) and 97(1)(h) of the Constitution, 1992 grounded on public interest statement made by the Minority Leader, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, MP for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam, pursuant to Order 93 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
MP for Effutu meanwhile, accused the Speaker for disregarding ongoing Judicial Processes he has triggered-“It is particularly troubling that the Speaker proceeded with this ruling despite being fully aware that the matter of the meaning and effect of Article 94 (l)(g) was pending before the Supreme Court, The Majority Leader had filed a suit against the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney General on October 15, 2024, seeking constitutional interpretation of the said provision, and formally notified the Speaker of this fact during the Parliamentary session on October 16, 2024. Crucially, Parliament was officially served with the writ through its Legal Department on October 16, 2024, a day before the Speaker’s ruling”.
