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Parliament of Ghana |
In a historic and an interesting turnout of events, Alban
Bagbin, the honorable speaker of the 8th parliament of the 4th
republic of Ghana in his ruling on Thursday pronounced the NDC side (formerly
the minority) of the house as the majority in the chambers as he declared 4
seats vacant. A significant development in the history of Ghana`s democracy.
The dismissed MPs included two NPP MPs Hon. Morrison Cynthia
and Hon. Asante Kojo for the Agona West and Suhum constituencies respectively
as well as an NDC MP Hon. Andrew Asiamah of the Amenfi Central Constituency and
also Hon. Peter Kwakye Ackah sitting MP for Fomena Constituency who was elected
as an independent candidate but now switching to contest on the ticket of the
NPP.
This comes after the former minority speaker and MP for Tamale
South, Hon Haruna Iddrisu filed a petition for the speaker and the house to
deliberate on the decisions of the said MPs and make a ruling to the effect as
established by law.
The speaker in his speech, mentioned his ruling was based on
the constitution, standing orders of parliament and precedence in such cases
where some members of the parliament were asked to vacate the house as a result
of their decisions to switch parties as sitting MPs going into a general
election.
With about fifty days remaining to the general elections and
the current state of the country`s politics, this developing story has and
continues to generate different opinions from various perspectives as some
people criticize the decision of the Speaker as one made to favor his party
whilst others argue that it is the best decision to make as established by law
and precedence.
The former minority speaker, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu was quoted
saying, “it emphasizes constitutional supremacy” as he explains the need for
the speaker to made such decision in as much as the law says so and there is
enough precedence.
Ex-President and Presidential Candidate of the NDC, His
Excellency John Dramani Mahama who is hoping to return to office this year also
in a speech on his campaign tours reffered to the developments as an indication
that victory is coming to the NDC.
Meanwhile the ruling party NPP and now minority of the
parliament seems to be agitated as they staged a walk out during proceedings in
the chambers of the parliament.
They argued that they had secured a court injunction earlier
which was to prevent the speaker from such move and more so, they are of the
view that the speaker should wait for the court to interpret the law on the
case before his decision was taken.
The NDC and now majority on the hand says, of course it is
no news to them that the NPP staged a walk out or claimed they will be absent
from the chambers until the case is determined by the court as they will
proceed to reconstitute committees and continue parliamentary business with or
without the NPP side of the house.
#parliament #NDC #NPP #SPEAKEROFPARLIAMENT
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