Mischief Notwithstanding, “Speaker Never Addressed NDC As Majority”- Afenyo Markin Reveals | Parliament

Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon Alexander Afenyo Markin, has revealed that despite all the brouhaha over which side of the House now has the numbers to spearhead Government’s business, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, never addressed the National Democratic Congress” Members of Parliament as “majority“. 

Ghana’s parliament was on Thursday, thrown into an arena of legal battles as the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared the seats of three NPP MPs and one NDC MP vacant following their decision to run as independent candidates in the upcoming December 7, general elections. 

Background

This follows Thursday’s dramatic events in Parliament, where the Speaker declared four seats held by MPs contesting the 2024 elections on different tickets as vacant. The affected legislators are Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah of the NDC from the Amenfi Central constituency in the Western Region, Andrew Amoako Asiamah of Fomena in the Ashanti Region, Kojo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum in the Eastern Region, and Cynthia Morrison of the NPP from the Agona West constituency.

That controversial decision followed a heated debate in the House, initiated by a petition from former NDC Minority Leader and MP fOr Tamale South, Hon Haruna Iddrisu.

Following the Speaker’s rulling, the NPP’s seat count reduced, briefly granting the NDC a majority status. 

This ruling altered the balance in Ghana’s hung parliament, which had previously given the governing NPP a slight majority with support from Independent MP Andrew Amoako Asiamah. According to the Speaker’s decision, the NDC now holds 136 seats in the House, while the NPP has 135. Before this ruling, the NPP had 138 seats compared to the NDC’s 137.

However, within 24 hours, the Supreme Court granted a stay of execution, nullifying the Speaker’s ruling until the substantive case seeking an interpretation of the relevant constitutional article is heard.

By the latest ruling the affected MPs are allowed to continue their duties until a final verdict is reached. 

Mischief, But Still Majority

In an exclusive interview with Ghana’s morning Voice, host of Peace FM‘s “Kokrokoo” morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi on Monday, October 21, Alexander Afenyo Markin stated that, the Speaker was very “subtle” and mischievous in his announcement regarding the declaration of vacancy. According to him, the Rt Hon S.K Bagbin, in the process of giving his ruling, continuously referred to him [Afenyo markin] as the Majority Leader and Leader of Ghana’s parliament. 

“There is something Speaker did. Speaker knew exactly what he was doing so he played the game in a very subtle way. What did he do? In spite of his mischief, he still addressed me as Majority Leader. He never addressed me minority leader. He never proclaimed the NDC as Majority. In fact, I checked the Hanzard after we even walked out of the chamber, he still referred to the NDC’s leader as Minority,” Afenyo Markin said.  

Since its inception on January 7, 2021, the 8th Parliament has been marked by controversies. As a parliament which started dramatically, it appears the end might also be that of confusion. Only time will tell.