In a letter dated January 13, 2021 and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Amoako declared that he shall for the purposes of transacting business in the house associate with the NPP caucus in the Eighth Parliament.
The independent member of parliament for Fomena Mr. Amoako who is also the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament was clear in the letter, a copy of which has been seen by Graphic Online stated, “For the avoidance of doubt, I do hereby affirm that I shall cooperate and collaborate with the NPP caucus in the Eighth Parliament.”
Before officially putting it in writing, Mr Amoako had already verbally indicated in separate media interviews before the inauguration of the 8th Parliament that he will do business with the NPP caucus.
He is the only independent MP in the 275 member house.
The NPP caucus has 137 seats and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) side also has 137 seats.
Mr. Amoako’s official declaration therefore gives the NPP side the numerical strength for purposes of doing business in the house as the Majority in line with Standing Order 7 of Parliament.
Standing Order 7 talks about who forms the majority group in Parliament and explains it as the party or parties with the largest group in Parliament.
The rule in the House is that the Majority side sits on the right side of the Speaker.
