Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has said that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament is to blame for the halt in conducting government business.
His comments follow the NPP MPs’ decision, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to boycott Tuesday’s sitting after legislators from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) occupied the majority side of the house.
In an interview, Mr Ayariga stressed that the NDC Caucus is ready to return to Parliament whenever the Speaker recalls the House, expressing their commitment to continuing with legislative business.
“We are in opposition and we are not responsible for conducting government business, but we came in our numbers, ready to assist them [NPP MPs] conduct government business. He [Afenyo-Markin] came and he was more interested in preserving his post as a former Majority Leader.
“So if you say that we have wasted public resources, no. We were in the chamber, ready to do business. He is the one who ran away from his own business. So who is the one who is wasting public resources?”
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has suspended parliamentary proceedings indefinitely, citing the lack of a quorum as the reason for halting the session.
Mr. Bagbin announced the decision on Tuesday, October 22, after revealing that he had received a communication from the Supreme Court on his earlier ruling declaring four seats vacant.
The speaker, however, did not go into detail regarding the contents of the communication received from the apex court, leaving MPs and observers in the dark regarding the implications of the court’s directive.
During the brief proceedings on the day, Mr. Bagbin told the House that although they had the numbers to conduct business, the House did not have the numbers to make decisions.
Meanwhile, the majority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has revealed plans to recall Parliament today, Wednesday, October 23, following recent tensions surrounding the adjournment of the House.
The Effutu MP expressed his dissatisfaction with the Speaker’s decision to adjourn parliamentary sittings indefinitely.
According to him, the Speaker’s decision is part of a deliberate strategy by the NDC to obstruct the smooth conduct of parliamentary business.
He accused the Minority caucus of intentionally trying to disrupt critical governmental functions and stall the progress of key legislation needed to stabilize Ghana’s economy.
The Efuttu MP highlighted the urgency of recalling Parliament to resume essential government work, including the passing of crucial bills and deliberations on national matters.
