You Acted in the Best Interest of Parliament and Ghanaians NDC Applauds Alban Bagbin

The largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has commended the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kinsgford Sumana Bagbin, for his show of maturity in handling the impasse in parliament following the declaration of four Parliamentary seats vacant on October 17, 2024. 

In a letter signed by the party's General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2024, the NDC stated that the able manner the Speaker of parliament continues to conduct the affairs of parliament is highly commendable and enviable. 

Tension was gradually building in parliament following the declaration of three NPP seats and one NDC seat in parliament, which, in effect, now makes the NDC the majority side in Ghana’s parliament. 

Prior to the ruling on the petition presented to the Speaker by the Tamale South Member of Parliament and former minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu to declare the seats vacant after the MPs decided to contest as independent candidates in the upcoming December 7 general elections, the leader of the NPP caucus had already petitioned the Supreme Court to give an interpretation of the state of the four MPs in the eyes of Article 97 (g) (h) in the 1992 constitution. 

In his ruling, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin declared the seats of Agona West whose incumbent MP is Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Suhum MP, Kojo Asante, Amenfi Central MP, Hon. Ackah and the Fomena MP, who doubles as the second deputy speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, vacant following their decision to contest the upcoming elections on the ticket of political parties other than the one on whose ticket they entered in Parliament. 

Following the Speaker's ruling, the NDC caucus, based on the Speaker's ruling, decided to occupy the majority side of Parliament. The NPP caucus, in order not to display any theatre of chaos in parliament, staged a peaceful walk out while awaiting the Speaker's final ruling on Tuesday, October 22. 

However, the NDC applauded the Speaker’s decision to adjourn the House indefinitely.
 
"We applaud him for working in the interest of Parliament and the people of Ghana and enhancing the integrity of Parliament with his leadership. We are confident that ultimately, the integrity and independence of parliamentary processes will be upheld and the House will persist to prioritise the interests of the people of Ghana above partisan interests," excerpts of the statement read.Kobina Darlington/