Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has firmly stated that the Majority caucus will never occupy minority seats in Parliament, following a crucial Supreme Court ruling that stayed the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
Speaking on Monday, November 11, Afenyo-Markin made this bold assertion after the Supreme Court announced it would deliver its judgment on the controversial matter of the vacant seats on Tuesday, November 12.
The case has triggered significant political tension, with both the Majority and Minority caucuses deeply divided over the issue.
The dispute centres on Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant. Bagbin made this move because the four Members of Parliament (MPs) in question – Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena) and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central) – had violated constitutional requirements, thus justifying their removal from office.
However, Afenyo-Markin and other members of the Majority argue that the Speaker overstepped his constitutional authority by making this declaration without judicial review or the initiation of by-elections.
Addressing the press on Monday, Afenyo-Markin urged Speaker Bagbin to uphold parliamentary procedures and called on him to ask the Minority caucus to vacate the seats they have been occupying and return them to the Majority MPs.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the actions taken by the Speaker had created a contentious situation that needs to be addressed in accordance with the Constitution.
“The council of state reached out to me again that they have spoken to Mr Speaker, and he concedes that he has not made a ruling and that the NDC will move to their own seat; he gave them that assurance. The council of state communicated that to us and if in all this Mr Speaker decides to [not comply], what should I do?
“I should go and sit in the minority seat? Spiritually it is not even good. You have three weeks to election. I should go and sit on the minority side. Is that my seat? I will not go and sit there. I will never do it. That is not my rightful place.
“I should go to the minority side, spiritually make myself a minority person and bind my colleagues? We will not do that. No NPP person will do that,” he stated.
The Majority Leader’s comments come in the wake of a situation where several Minority MPs occupied the seats designated for the Majority when Parliament was recalled by the Speaker.
This led to a standoff, with Minority members calling on the Majority caucus to appear in Parliament to make their case against the actions taken by the Minority MPs.
“The Speaker must do what is right and ensure that the Minority takes their rightful seats,” Afenyo-Markin added, emphasizing that the situation must be resolved properly for the integrity of Parliament to be maintained.
As the country awaits the final judgment from the Supreme Court, all eyes remain on the unfolding legal and political developments, with the outcome likely to have significant implications for parliamentary procedures and the balance of power between the Speaker, the Majority, and the Minority.
