Following a critical Supreme Court verdict that halted Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as empty, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has vowed unequivocally that the Majority caucus will never occupy minority seats in Parliament.
Afenyo-Markin made this audacious claim in a speech on Monday, November 11, following the Supreme Court’s announcement that it would render a decision on the contentious issue of the open seats on Tuesday, November 12.
Both the Majority and Minority caucuses are sharply split on the matter, which has caused a great deal of political stress.
Speaker Alban Bagbin’s designation of four parliamentary seats as vacant is at the heart of the conflict. Bagbin took this action because the four MPs in question—Kwadjo Asante from Suhum, Cynthia Morrison from Agona West, Andrew Asiamah from Fomena, and Peter Kwakye Ackah from Amenfi Central—had broken constitutional laws, which supported their dismissal.
However, Afenyo-Markin and other Majority members contend that by making this announcement without seeking judicial review or calling for by-elections, the Speaker went beyond his constitutional authority.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Afenyo-Markin urged Speaker Bagbin to request that the Minority caucus leave the seats they have been holding and give them back to the Majority MPs in order to respect parliamentary rules.
Afenyo-Markin asserted that the Speaker’s actions had produced a controversial situation that required constitutionally-based resolution.
“The council of state reached out to me again that they have spoken to Mr Speaker, and he concedes that he has not made a ruling and that the NDC will move to their own seat; he gave them that assurance. The council of state communicated that to us and if in all this Mr Speaker decides to [not comply], what should I do?
“I should go and sit in the minority seat? Spiritually it is not even good. You have three weeks to election. I should go and sit on the minority side. Is that my seat? I will not go and sit there. I will never do it. That is not my rightful place.
“I should go to the minority side, spiritually make myself a minority person and bind my colleagues? We will not do that. No NPP person will do that,” he stated.
Following a circumstance in which a number of Minority MPs filled the seats intended for the Majority when the Speaker recalled Parliament, the Majority Leader made these remarks.
Minority parliamentarians demanded that the Majority caucus come to Parliament to argue against the Minority MPs’ conduct, which resulted in a deadlock.
“The Speaker must do what is right and ensure that the Minority takes their rightful seats,” Afenyo-Markin added, emphasizing that the situation must be resolved properly for the integrity of Parliament to be maintained.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Joseph Asare
