In response to the Majority caucus’s allegations of sabotage against the Minority in Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the MP for South Dayi, has strongly retaliated.
During an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Friday, the NDC MP expressed his views and urged the Majority Caucus to refrain from engaging in hypocrisy.
This development occurred following the third instance where Parliament was compelled to suspend its sessions without addressing vital matters outlined in the order paper, including significant government affairs.
The forced adjournments have been due to the Minority’s boycott of the House to attend court in solidarity with the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson who’s facing a criminal trial.
The Majority on the back of this accused the Minority side of trying to sabotage the House.
But Mr Dafeamekpor says that is not the case. He explained that members of the opposite side were equally not present in the House to transact government business.
“Please cut the hypocrisy, you have over two-thirds of your members following the Vice President in touring the Ashanti region, that is why they are not in the chamber, but you are rather concerned about Minority members who are solidarising with our colleague, Quayson in court, Minority Leader in court, Collins Dauda in court. That is what bothers you; but your people following the Vice President around campaigning doesn’t bother you?” he asked.
According to him, article 97(1) is very clear as to the grounds upon which a member can leave parliament, and that they are simply exercising that right.
“Is it not the government that is persecuting our members in court? So, nobody in government should be crying for us withdrawing consensus in Parliament,” he added.
Additionally, he reiterated that the Minority will persist in their decision to boycott parliamentary proceedings whenever a member of their party is scheduled to appear before a court.