Boycott Over: Minority expected in parliament today

The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) which staged a one-week boycott of parliamentary proceedings last Wednesday, is to go back to the House today.

Hon. Alban A.S.K Bagbin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, gave the hint in an interview on air yesterday.

Hon. Bagbin, who is also the MP for Nadowli North, explained that the Minority has decided to go back to continue with the business of the House because they are convinced of the fact that the boycott, has succeeded in raising public awareness about the concerns of the NDC in Parliament, and has also raised public awareness on the issues of Parliamentary rights, privileges and immunities.

The boycott was in protest against what the Minority MPs, led by Alban Bagbin and chief whip, Eddie Doe Adjaho called ?the persecution and harassment of their members whilst the 1992 Constitution prescribes the enjoyment of Parliamentary rights, privileges and immunities.

They also accused the executive (the Presidency) of interfering with the work of Parliament. In a press statement read by Hon. Alban Bagbin, he said the Minority had raised a number of issues, which called for investigations and possible prosecution of the offenders, who are mostly in government.

They also alluded to the fact that per parliamentary practice, any agency of state investigating or trying an MP, must first notify the Speaker of Parliament for his consent. Later, the Minority submitted a memorandum drawing the attention of the Speaker, to their concerns.


After studying the memorandum Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, the Speaker of Parliament, declared that he has no power to forestall the development of an ?elective dictatorship, to encourage a representative expression of the House?s opinion in all matters, as being demanded by the Minority group in Parliament.


The minority had cited the on-going trial of Hon. Dan Abodakpi, MP for Keta at an Accra Fast Track Court to support their claim that some of their members were being harrassed.

Also cited was an invitation to another Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Ato Quarshie, MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) and former Minister of Roads and Highways, whom the Daily Guide has learnt, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating over contracts awarded to Construction Pioneers (CP) and Dr. Frank Abu, MP for Wassa-Amenfi Central.


The Minority cited a number of issues which they alleged were fraught with corruption and also mentioned some DCEs and other government officials who had allegedly engaged in fraudulent acts but were being let off the hook by the Executive.