Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers will return to Parliament only after the December 7 election.
According to him, the Minority caucus is focused on preparations for the upcoming election and will not be distracted.
“They [the Majority] should not waste taxpayers’ money by asking us to come to Parliament in the next three weeks. We are not coming. We are concerned about the elections, and we shall only return to Parliament after the elections. That should be at the back of their minds,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Channel One TV.
Nii Lante’s comment follows the Supreme Court’s ruling on Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration that four seats were vacant.
In a 5-2 majority decision, the Apex Court ruled that the declaration was unconstitutional and could not stand.
This decision follows the Majority caucus’ move to trigger a recall of Parliament after the Supreme Court overturned Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration that four seats were vacant.
The decision affected four MPs: Cynthia Mamle Morrison, NPP MP for Agona West; Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah, NDC MP for Amenfi Central; Kwadjo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum; and Andrew Asiamah Amoako, Independent MP for Fomena.
Three of these MPs have filed to contest the December 7 elections as independent candidates, while Mr. Amoako has chosen to return to the NPP.
The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has expressed hope that the Speaker will soon recall the House after an indefinite adjournment on Thursday, November 7.
However, Nii Lante has stated that it is not for the Supreme Court or the NPP to decide which party forms the Minority or Majority in the House.
“We want them to understand one fact: as far as we are concerned, issues about the Minority or Majority are determined by the numbers in the House. So when we resume, the numbers will tell whether we are the Majority or they are the Majority. This is not about the Supreme Court,” he said.
“It is not for the NPP or the Supreme Court to define for us who is the Majority or Minority in Ghana’s Parliament. We have our own procedures for determining who is the Majority and who is the Minority. When they were declared Majority by Speaker Bagbin, did they go to the Supreme Court to seek that declaration?” he questioned.