Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman has urged the Minority and Majority caucuses in Parliament to unite and recall the House for government business to proceed following the Supreme Court verdict on Bagbin’s declaration of vacant seats.
Dr. Draman noted that as much as the NDC Caucus may disagree with the verdict, they should consider the citizens and abide by the verdict to ensure a successful end of the 8th Parliament.
He called on both sides of the House to put aside the tensions and work together.
“Just as we have all said, this is a political issue and needs a reconciliation, coming together and uniting the country.
“I hope the Speaker and the NDC side abide by the ruling even if anybody disagrees because we are a country of rule of law.
“We only have a few weeks to go just for Ghanaians to decide who is going to lead us and who is going to be majority and minority in Parliament, so in that spade I hope that we all leave the past behind and cone together and do the business of our country,” he said on Ghana Tonight, Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Odododiodioo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuiye, has said that most of his colleagues have decided not to respond to any call on them to return to the House.
The suit filed by Afenyo-Markin sought the court to declare as unconstitutional Speaker Bagbin’s declaration of four seats vacant. This brought a stalemate in Parliament as the NDC members assumed the Majority position based on the Speaker’s ruling. This prompted the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament to boycott proceedings of the House.
With the latest ruling by the Supreme Court, Parliament is expected to be recalled with the NDC MPs reverting to their original Minority status.
