Leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MP), Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament of unlawfully possessing the Majority side of Parliament.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs continued to occupy the Majority side of the House, claiming it as their rightful position during today’s parliamentary sitting at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Reacting to this, Mr Afenyo-Markin noted that the Clerk of Parliament had positioned the names of the NPP MPs on the Majority side, however, the NDC MPs physically removed their name tags and took their seats.
He registered his displeasure with the Speaker of Parliament for allowing this to take place after the Supreme Court halted the suspension of four Members of Parliament – a case that has birthed this development.
The Speaker’s vacant seat ruling, based on his interpretation of Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, was contested by the NPP, particularly by the leader of the NPP Members of Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Afenyo-Markin argued that Speaker Bagbin had overstepped his constitutional authority by declaring the seats vacant without judicial oversight, prompting him to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.
In response to the challenge, the Supreme Court issued an interim injunction halting the Speaker’s decision until further judicial review. Speaker Bagbin has filed an application with the Supreme Court to reinstate his declaration of the seats as vacant, arguing that parliamentary decisions fall outside the jurisdiction of the judiciary. However, the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, dismissed Bagbin’s motion.
During Thursday’s sitting, the Speaker explained that the House could not sit for business as the Business Committee chaired by NPP Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, could not sit to have a business report that would be deliberated.
“As you know, they prepare report and this report adopted by the House as business agreed by the House to transact during the course of the week. In the absence of that, there is no other authority that can put government before you which you have not adopted to transact. In view of the failure of the Business Committee to sit, as a result of the refusal of those who requested for the recall to show up, we are compelled to once again adjourn the sitting of the House,” the Speaker said.
He therefore adjourned sitting despite the House having a quorom.