There will be no military presence in Parliament today - Afenyo-Markin

The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has given a firm assurance that soldiers will not be deployed to Parliament on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 as the House sits for business.

Concerns over a possible military deployment are driving up tensions ahead of Parliament's reorganization.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has sounded the alarm, claiming that military personnel will be sent to Parliament.

There is an ongoing tussle between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the NDC over who has now has the Majority status in the House.

Political tensions between the NPP and NDC have been heightened after the Speaker of Parliament declared four parliamentary seats vacant, one on the NDC side and two on the NPP side. The independent MP for Fomena who has decided to contest on NPP ticket come December 7, had his seat also declared vacant. That left the NDC with 136 seats in Parliament, making them the majority, while the NPP holds 135.

But just a day after , the Supreme Court last Friday stayed the Speaker's ruling temporarily halting the move.

The NDC Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, warned against any military presence, asserting that his caucus would resist such actions.

He also accused the government of previously deploying the military at the start of the 8th Parliament in 2021, claiming that MPs were assaulted during that incident.

"We are aware that between yesterday and today, some element of government have had the meeting again to deploy the military to the precinct of Parliament to enter the tent. We are aware of that,” he said at a press conference on Sunday.

The Adaklu MP cautioned that the “life of this government is less than 2 months. They will have to account for their conduct in 2020 and whatever they do tomorrow. But they shouldn’t be surprised that the people of this country would react forcefully to anybody in uniform on Tuesday and beyond.”

But reacting to the claims by the NDC in an interview on Peace FM as monitored by GhanaWeb, the Majority Leader refuted the claim urging the public to disregard with the contempt that it deserves.

He stated on authority that there will be absolutely no military presence at Parliament as soldiers have no business in the lawmaking House.

"There cannot be any military presence at Parliament. What is the soldier going to do there? That is part of the NDC's propaganda. What business has a soldier got to do at Parliament House. Is the soldier going to protect me or who?

"You asked for my response, by the grace of God with all humility and with all modesty. I lead my side of the House and I lead the House, as Majority Leader, you are also the leader of the House and I am saying this, take it from me, there will be no chaos in Parliament. We will not allow that. Again, there will be no military presence, they would have no business in parliament. It it part of their (NDC) ploy, we would not fall into that trap."

KA

Watch the latest episode of #SayItLoud below: