The ongoing political development in Parliament has left the Minority caucus calling on the Majority caucus to accept their new position in the legislative body.
This plea comes after the Speaker of Parliament’s contentious decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, an act that has triggered a strong reaction from the Majority.
The Majority caucus, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, staged a dramatic walkout in response to the Speaker’s ruling on Thursday, October 17.
The ruling, which impacts MPs Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), stems from their decision to contest the upcoming 2024 elections as independent candidates while Andrew Asiamah (Fomena) has decided to contest on the ticket of the NPP.
Bagbin’s ruling, based on constitutional provisions, holds that by declaring their independent candidacies or cross-carpeting to other political parties, the MPs have effectively vacated their parliamentary positions.
This development has shifted the balance of power in Parliament, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) now holding 136 seats compared to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 135, making the NDC the majority caucus.
The declaration has sparked debate and confusion within political circles, and it has raised questions about how Parliament will function moving forward under this new arrangement.
The First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, expressed his dissatisfaction with the Majority’s response and called on their leadership to accept the Speaker’s decision and move forward with the business of governance and the House.
Ahmed Ibrahim questioned the logic of the Majority’s stance, highlighting the absurdity of their claim to retain majority control when the numbers clearly show a shift in favour of the NDC.