I'm getting scared we may face more difficulties in the Ninth Parliament - Muntaka

The Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has expressed concerns about the potential challenges that may arise in the Ninth Parliament of Ghana, following the recent vacant seat impasse in the House.

In an interview with GHOne TV, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, he stated that he fears an intensifying acrimonious atmosphere between the two sides of the House, suggesting that new standing orders and committee dynamics may bring about division instead of promoting oversight and accountability.

"This kind of acrimonious relationship, or this acrimony, I am doubting if the new standing orders will help us, then it is okay, this is a committee we can use to create more havoc. Instead of a committee that we may use to demand more oversight, making sure the right things are done, now it becomes a tool for 'You do me, I do you' that kind of tennis ping pong thing and I am beginning to get scared that if we are not careful going into the Ninth Parliament we may have more difficulty especially whoever wins," he stated.

He emphasised the necessity of a decisive parliamentary majority, pointing to the super majority enjoyed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2017 as a benchmark for effective governance.

The Member of Parliament for Asawase also warned against a repeat of the narrow majority held during the late President John Atta Mills' tenure, which, he suggested, could hinder parliamentary work.

"I am hopeful that the NDC will win but winning, we must have a very very comfortable majority like in 2017 where Nana Addo Dankwa had a super comfortable majority. I mean there are instances in the House, where they will say we should come on Saturday and, they (NPP MPs) will say we won't come because we have the numbers to take decisions to do everything.

"If you go and have President Atta Mills majority, I doubt whether the Ninth Parliament will work if you don't have that kind of majority," he noted.

His comment follows the recent ruling by the Supreme Court which declared that the Speaker of Parliament’s declaration of four seats as vacant was unconstitutional.

The ruling effectively restored the ruling New Patriotic Party's (NPP) majority in the legislature.

The Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had petitioned the apex court to overturn Speaker Alban Bagbin's ruling.

Background

The controversy arose after the Supreme Court stayed the Speaker's decision to declare four seats vacant.

This decision followed actions by the affected MPs, who had decided to “cross the carpet” by filing to contest the December 7, 2024, parliamentary elections in different capacities—either as independents or on other political party tickets.

This move diverged from the grounds on which these MPs were originally elected to Parliament.

The seats affected are those held by Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).

The dispute has also led to a standoff between the two sides of Parliament over which party holds the Majority.

While the Supreme Court’s ruling places the NDC in the Minority, the Speaker’s decision positions the NPP in the Minority.

The core contention in this case centres on whether the Supreme Court has the authority to overrule parliamentary decisions.

JKB/AE

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