The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has commended its Members of Parliament (MPs), led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, for demonstrating what they see as maturity and adherence to the rule of law during a heated parliamentary session on Tuesday, October 22.
This commendation was issued through a statement by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on Wednesday, October 23.
The party praised the NPP caucus for maintaining composure despite what it described as extreme provocation from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), reaffirming that the NPP remains committed to safeguarding peace and stability in the country.
The NPP expressed gratitude for the resolve of its MPs in resisting the alleged attempt by the NDC-sponsored Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to unlawfully alter the composition of Parliament in favour of the NDC.
The party stated that the Supreme Court’s ruling vindicated the NPP’s stance by ordering Speaker Bagbin to reverse what it described as an “unlawful and undemocratic decision.”
“It is worth emphasizing that there is currently no debate about the composition of the 8th Parliament. The NPP Parliamentary Group, together with the Independent Member of Parliament, comprising 138 MPs, constitute the Majority Caucus of Ghana’s Parliament, whereas the NDC Parliamentary Group constitutes the Minority Caucus with 137 MPs. It was so on the 7th of January, 2021 when the 8th Parliament was inaugurated, and it is still so. Nothing has changed, at least, until the final determination by the Supreme Court, of the suit filed by the Majority Leader.”
The NPP urged Speaker Bagbin to abandon what it called his “extreme partisan posture” in managing parliamentary affairs, warning that such behaviour could erode public trust in the democratic process.
The party emphasised that the Speaker, who is not an elected MP, is bound by his oath of office and constitutional mandate to act as an impartial referee rather than a partisan player.
“His mandate under the Constitution as well as his oath of office enjoins him to act as a referee and not a player. The Speaker must appreciate the supremacy of the Constitution and realize that neither Parliament nor himself is above the very Constitution which created his office and from which he draws his authority in Parliament. He must also realize that it is only the Supreme Court that has the mandate under the Constitution to interpret and enforce all the provisions of the Constitution,” part of the statement read.
The NPP cautioned the NDC Caucus to respect the electoral process, noting that Ghanaians, not Parliament, determine which party holds the majority.
“We wish to remind the NDC and their desperate Minority Caucus in Parliament that in Ghana, the determination of which political party constitutes Minority or Majority in Parliament is done by the Ghanaian electorates at the polls. It is not manufactured in Parliament with the aid of a partisan Speaker. They should, indeed, be guided by the free advice given to them by the next President of Ghana, HE Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to focus on winning majority seats at the polling stations and not in Parliament,” the party said.
The NPP further criticised the NDC as a “lawless entity” that constantly seeks chaos.
“If the NPP Majority caucus hadn’t taken the high ground, and remained on the side of the law, we would have had fights in the august chamber and this would have dented the image of Ghana globally and heat up the atmosphere ahead of December elections. This lawless group is not one to be trusted with the reins of power.
“It is evident that the Opposition NDC and its apparatchiks, led by the Speaker of Parliament and the NDC Minority Caucus, want to undermine the democracy Ghanaians have fought so hard to build. We are currently enjoying peace, stability, economic growth but, in their quest for political power, the NDC wants to destabilise the entire country and risk the lives of every Ghanaian. Their behaviour is irresponsible, undemocratic and unpatriotic,” the party added.