Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga East, has called on New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs to honour their commitment to boycotting parliamentary proceedings, as announced by Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Afenyo-Markin who is also the leader of government business in Parliament on Thursday, October 17, declared that NPP MPs would indefinitely boycott all parliamentary activities in protest against Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling, which declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on Friday, October 18, Ayine, a former Deputy Attorney General, highlighted that whether or not the NPP follows through with its boycott, parliamentary business would continue as scheduled.
He emphasized that the House would reconvene on Tuesday, October 22, and conduct its proceedings with or without the presence of NPP MPs.
Ayine also pointed out that, following the Speaker’s ruling, the NPP has effectively moved from being the Majority party to now holding the position of the Minority, due to the sudden reduction in their numbers in the House.
“Majoritarian determination is by numbers and we [NDC] have more numbers than them [NPP] and it is as clear as daylight. We are the Majority and they are the Minority. They [the four lawmakers] are no longer MPs and the marshals [of Parliament] have the right to prevent them from entering Parliament. Their chairs will be empty until the end of this Parliament.”
Ayine hinted that the NDC would take immediate steps to abolish the e-levy once they reconvene in Parliament. He explained that Article 108 of the Ghanaian Constitution allowed for the introduction of private members’ bills to amend or repeal tax laws, and the NDC was ready to utilize this provision to dismantle the e-levy.
“We will sit, and we have more than half the members of Parliament on our side. We will start implementing our manifesto even on Tuesday, so they [the NPP] should stay off and we will go ahead and repeal the e-levy. Article 108 says that you can use private members’ bills to repeal tax legislation such as the e-levy.
“The president cannot continue to disrespect certain things and if he refuses such things, they constitute high treason and we can begin impeachment proceedings against him.”
Bagbin’s ruling affected Cynthia Mamle Morrison, NPP MP for Agona West, Kwadjo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum, Peter Kwakye-Ackah, NDC MP for Amenfi Central, and Andrew Amoako Asiamah independent member for Fomena who has rejoined the NPP ahead of the 2024 elections.