By Jeremiah Nutsugah
On Tuesday morning, Members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) staged a walkout after MPs from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) occupied their seats.
This dramatic turn of events was anticipated following last week’s controversy surrounding the Speaker’s declaration of four seats as vacant and the Supreme Court’s subsequent stay of execution.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu and leader of the NPP MPs, explained that they chose to retreat to their offices to await directives from Speaker Alban Sumana Bagbin rather than confront their opponents and risk chaos.
Afenyo-Markin emphasised Ghana’s reputation as a peaceful nation, saying, “We will not allow anyone to disturb the peace of this country.”
The NPP MPs are seeking the Speaker’s guidance on the way forward. Afenyo-Markin expressed confidence in Speaker Bagbin’s ability to handle the situation, citing his extensive experience in Ghana’s democracy since 1992 and his background as a senior lawyer.
Afenyo-Markin also highlighted the NPP’s commitment to peace, stating, “NPP is for peace; NPP is for the peace of Ghana.”
He urged the media to advocate for respect for the rule of law and encouraged his NDC counterparts to follow suit.
The current standoff stems from the Speaker’s declaration of four seats as vacant, which was later stayed by the Supreme Court. The NPP MPs are seeking clarification on this matter, and the Speaker’s decision will be crucial in resolving the impasse.
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