Afenyo-Markin Furious, Ato Forson Amused As Ghana's Parliamentary Tables Turn

• The New Patriotic Party's leader in parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the Speaker of being biased
• He claimed that Alban Bagbin's decision to order four MPs to vacate their seats was improper and must be reversed
• Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress' Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has embraced the changes in parliament

The parliamentary tables have been turned after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus was declared the minority while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus claimed the majority.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin declared four seats vacant after three MPs became independent candidates for the 2024 election and one other MP crossed the floor to join the ruling party.

This has left members of the NPP minority upset as the decision leaves them in a tough position after losing power in parliament.

Read also

Mahama expresses optimism in new NDC majority in parliament: "We're winning"

The ruling party will also have no opportunity to attempt to redeem themselves with barely two months to the 2024 general election.

NPP MPs then staged a walkout in protest against Bagbin's decision, while the NDC majority said it would use its power for good.

Newly minted NPP minority leader speaks

Now-Minority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the Speaker of Parliament of colluding with the NDC to deliver the devastating blow.

He claimed Bagbin was biased and said the NPP would boycott parliament until the Supreme Court made a clear judgement on the matter.

Afenyo-Markin had earlier filed a petition to Ghana's highest court urging intervention under Article 97(1)(g) of the constitution.

He added that, in their view, the Speaker acted out of turn by declaring the seats vacant unless the Supreme Court otherwise stated.

Read also

Speaker declares NDC majority side, NPP minority after 4 MPs vacate their seats

“We will follow up the process at court, and if the court makes a pronouncement, we will respect the orders of the court,” he stated.

Newly minted NDC majority leader reacts

The leader of the new majority, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, stated that the Speaker of Parliament had now 'affirmed the will' of Ghanaians.

According to him, Ghanaians had originally voted for an NDC majority and that should have been the case as of the eighth parliament.

“Today, we have the working majority, and we will begin the process to reset our country,” he said.

He said by Tuesday, the NDC would officially transition to the majority side and initiate the process of filling key parliamentary posts.

The party's presidential candidate, John Mahama, also welcomed the Speaker's declaration that the four seats in Parliament are vacant.

As 3News reported, he celebrated the NDC becoming the majority without casting a single ballot, saying this was a good sign for the party.

Read also

Bryan Acheampong says drought-affected farmers to receive GH¢1,000 each

Alban argues against NPP’s claims

YEN.com.gh also reported that Alban Bagbin, in delivering his ruling on Thursday, October 17, 2024, stated that the NPP’s argument that Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 constitution was to only apply to a future parliament was neither here nor there.

He also stressed that arguments made by the former Speaker of Parliament Aaron Mike Ocquaye, when he declared the Fomena MP’s seat vacant and his reason for doing so, were not binding on any speaker and thus had no locus on his ruling.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh