Vanderpuye Says Minority Caucus Won't Return To Parliament Until After Ghana's Elections

• The Odododiodio Member of Parliament has cautioned the majority side of the house against recalling parliament
• He said his side would not appear if this happened as they are busy campaigning ahead of the December 7 election
• He added that it would be a total waste of state resources should the Speaker heed the call and summon Parliament

The Odododiodio Member of Parliament, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has indicated that the minority caucus would boycott parliament until after the December 7 elections.

The decision followed the majority caucus’ plan to trigger a recall of Parliament after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the vacant seat controversy.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on November 12, 2024, stated that Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant was unconstitutional, thus siding with the majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

However, reacting to the court’s ruling, Edwin Vanderpuye said it was not up to the court to determine which side of the house is the majority or otherwise.

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He told Channel One TV that the numbers on both sides of the aisle would determine which party becomes the majority or minority when the House finally resumes.

Vanderpuye noted that his side of the House would not resume even if the majority caucus successfully triggered a recall of Parliament in the coming weeks.

According to him, the MPs are busy campaigning and preparing for the 2024 general elections and thus would only return to Parliament after the polls closed.

Vanderpuye further warned the NPP caucus against wasting taxpayers’ money by triggering a recall of Parliament.

More about the vacant seats controversy

Bagbin had declared the seats for Fomena, Amenfi Central, Suhum, and Agona West vacant because their parliamentarians are contesting the 2024 election on different tickets.

Bagbin also followed the precedent set by immediate-past Speaker of Parliament Aaron Mike Oquaye, who declared the seat of the Fomena MP vacant in 2020 under similar circumstances without any legal pushback.

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However, Afenyo-Markin challenged this interpretation and argued that Bagbin had exceeded his authority by bypassing judicial review and denying the possibility of by-elections in the affected constituencies.

His challenge led to the Supreme Court previously staying the process. Bagbin did not submit a defence in the case and has offered no formal reason for his actions.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court dismissed his earlier application to overturn its ruling, suspending his declaration of the four parliamentary seats as vacant.

Bagbin adjourns Parliament indefinitely

YEN.com.gh reported that Speaker Alban Bagbin had adjourned parliamentary proceedings indefinitely.

He said this decision was due to questions being asked about the composition and constitution of the house.

Bagbin added that per Standing Order 59 and consultation, parliament would close until the case was settled.

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

Source: YEN.com.gh