Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus will take the majority position in Parliament when it resumes on Thursday.
Agbodza made these remarks during a campaign event in Adaklu Ahunda, as part of a tour by Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, running mate of the NDC’s presidential candidate, who visited the Volta Region.
His comments follow Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s announcement of four parliamentary seats being declared vacant.
Agbodza expressed confidence in returning to Parliament as the Majority Chief Whip, dismissing any suggestion that he would serve in a minority role.
He cited Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution, arguing that it supports the vacancy of these seats and validates his stance on the majority position. According to Agbodza, the four MPs whose seats were declared vacant have not contested the decision, effectively ending their status as Members of Parliament.
“I do not intend to be called Minority Leader in 2024, and that will not happen. I will be going to Parliament on Thursday as Majority Chief Whip, and I will come back as Majority Chief Whip. Whoever doesn’t like it, can do whatever he or she likes. As far as I am concerned, the four colleagues have actually vacated their seats in accordance with Article 97.
“And since they are not going to renege on that decision not to contest, they are no longer valid Members of Parliament.”
In addition to addressing parliamentary positioning, Agbodza took the opportunity to respond to assertions made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding infrastructural projects in the Adaklu constituency.
During a recent tour by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s presidential candidate, party representatives claimed that the NPP had constructed the first tarred road in Adaklu.
Agbodza, however, refuted this claim, emphasising the NDC’s role in the area’s development.
He clarified that the only recent road project undertaken by the NPP was a stretch from Akwetey to Waya, a project, he claimed, had originally been initiated by the NDC before they left office.
“The only other road that they have attempted was Akwetey to Waya which we actually awarded before we left. They have done it. This road have existed for more than 10 years. Just try and use the road that was constructed for less than one year and see for yourself the quality. This is NDC quality, that is NPP quality.”
