ATTEMPTS TO RECALL PARLIAMENT WILL BE RESISTED — NDC Caucus

The National Democratic Congress group in Parliament has suggested that they will oppose any effort to recall Parliament.

On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the Speaker of Parliament adjourned the session due to a lack of business and the absence of New Patriotic Party MPs.

Following the adjournment of the sitting, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the NDC caucus leader, spoke to the media, stating that the NPP is inflicting financial harm on the state with the recall of Parliament.

He noted that the MPs who were required to leave their constituencies have experienced some financial losses.

Nevertheless, Alexander Afenyo Markin, during a press conference, stated that they will reconvene Parliament to address pressing government matters.

However, a message from the NDC caucus has cautioned against another parliamentary recall. They state that any effort to reconvene parliament will be opposed and not pursued, as the NPP has no pressing matters to address.

Read Their Statement Below

APOLOGISE TO THE RT. HON. SPEAKER AND DESIST FROM FURTHER DESECRATING THE INSTITUTION OF PARLIAMENT – MAJORITY CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT TO NPP MINORITY LEADER HON. AFENYO-MARKIN

1. The NDC Majority Caucus in Parliament has taken notice of the continuous personal attacks on the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament by the Leader of the NPP Minority Caucus, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

2. Having abused Article 112 (3) and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament to trigger another urgent recall of Parliament for the third time this year on Thursday, 7th November, 2024, Hon. Afenyo-Markin and members of the NPP Minority completely abandoned the Parliamentary Chamber and the business of Parliament.

3. The NDC Majority Caucus is highly disappointed that instead of appearing in the Chamber yesterday to transact the so-called urgent business for which MPs had to abandon their campaign activities and honour the recall, the Minority Leader Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin and the NPP caucus did not only abandon the chamber but Hon. Afenyo-Markin embarked on a vitriolic media campaign against the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament.

4. In a series of viral media interviews, Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin could be heard attacking the Rt. Hon. Speaker in very unsavoury and unparliamentary terms unbecoming of a Minority Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament.

5. The NDC Majority Caucus demands an immediate and unqualified apology from Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin for the unwarranted attacks which were deliberately calculated to lower the office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament in the eyes of right-thinking Ghanaians.

6. We wish to state for the records that the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament has done no wrong to deserve such unfair and disrespectful attacks from the Leader of the NPP Minority Caucus. The Rt. Hon. Speaker has always been firm and resolute in defending the Constitution and he deserves commendation for protecting the sanctity of the Parliament of Ghana and our democratic institutions.

7. If there is anyone who deserves such harsh and unfair criticism, it must be the leader of the NPP Minority Caucus Hon. Afenyo-Markin who continues to abuse parliamentary processes just to satisfy his personal ego.

8. As of yesterday, when Minority Leader Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin subjected the House to an urgent recall for the third time, he struggled to mobilise less than 30 NPP Members of Parliament. This was partly the reason why he could not lead the NPP Minority Caucus into the Chamber to conduct the business of government.

9. It is also noteworthy that despite the deliberate abuse of the constitutional provision and the Standing Orders of Parliament to needlessly recall the House, the NDC Majority Caucus were able to marshal in excess of 100 MPs who were ready and willing to transact public business. This was in spite of the fact that members of the NPP Minority Caucus who initiated the recall of the House failed to appear in the parliamentary Chamber, forcing the Rt. Hon. Speaker to adjourn the House indefinitely.

10. We wish to serve notice to the Leader of the NPP Minority Caucus, Hon. AfenyoMarkin, that if he has any intentions to trigger another recall of Parliament pursuant to Order 53 and Article 112(3) of the Constitution, then he should brace himself for resistance. This is because the NDC Majority Caucus will no longer tolerate his reckless abuse of the parliamentary process.

11. We call on the people of Ghana to condemn the NPP Minority in Parliament for taking the people of Ghana for granted by abusing constitutional and parliamentary processes and causing huge financial loss to the Ghanaian taxpayer.

12. Finally, we wish to advise Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin to let go of his ego and render an unqualified apology to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament who has distinguished himself during his legislative career that span more than three decades.

***END***

HON. EMMANUEL ARMAH-KOFI BUAH, MP

(DEPUTY MAJORITY LEADER)

FRIDAY, 8TH NOVEMBER, 2024

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

ACCRA.

 

 

 

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