Leader of the NDC caucus in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has chastised the NPP caucus for failing to show up in Parliament after being called to reconvene by the Speaker.
Addressing the press after the Speaker suspended Parliament sine die on November 7, 2024, Ato Forson described the absence of the NPP MPs as an abuse of the Constitution and the standing orders of Parliament.
According to him, it is unacceptable for the NPP MPs to fail to show up, especially after they had triggered the Speaker to recall Parliament following its indefinite suspension in October.
"I am deeply worried and concerned that the people who requested Parliament be recalled failed to show up. Clearly, what we are seeing here is an abuse of the Constitution and standing orders of Ghana’s Parliament. The NPP minority caucus has indeed caused financial loss to the state, to us, the NDC MPs, and to Ghanaians…” he said.
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has once again suspended the sitting of the House sine die (indefinitely).
Background
Controversy arose after the Supreme Court stayed the Speaker's decision to declare four seats vacant, following the affected MPs' decision to "cross the carpet" by filing to contest the December 7, 2024, parliamentary elections in different capacities—either as independents or on the tickets of other political parties. This action diverges from the basis on which these MPs were originally elected to the House.
The affected seats include those held by Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
Both sides of the House are now locked in a battle over which party holds the Majority, as the Supreme Court ruling positions the NDC in the Minority while the Speaker's ruling places the NPP in the Minority.
The core contention centres on whether the Supreme Court has the authority to restrict parliamentary decisions.
MAG/OGB
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