Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the boycott of parliamentary work by the Minority is an option available in democracy.
He, therefore, dismissed accusations against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs that they are frustrating the country’s development.
The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, after the swearing-in of the Assin North MP on Tuesday, July 4, served notice the caucus will stay away from proceedings anytime James Gyakye Quayson is to appear in court.
The caucus later escalated this threat to the trial of Dr Ato Forson himself and that of Asutifi South MP Collins Dauda.
But many have criticised this decision with the People’s National Convention (PNC), for instance, asking the Finance Ministry to surcharge all the MPs who absent themselves from the House as their action is “causing financial loss to the state”.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on Thursday, July 6, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa insisted it is within their constitutional right for the NDC MPs to protest the “persecution” their three colleagues are being subjected to under this government.
He said the protest is grounded on the “most egregious prejudicial comment” made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in Assin North.
“We are on solid grounds and we are saying that what has triggered our current action is the President’s latest prejudicial statements where he categorically that Hon. Quayson is going to prison,” he said.
“We have seen this before. When a government decides that they will engage in just a Kangaroo trial, they will pervert the course of justice. You do not sit idle and watch your colleagues go to the slaughter house.”