The Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin showed leadership and maturity in Parliament last Tuesday when he called his side to step out of the chamber after National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers occupied their seats in Parliament, a Political Scientist at the University of Ghana, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, has said.
Dr Zaato indicated that Ghanaians were concerned that they were going to witness brawls in Parliament again hence the action of Afeny-Markin was commendable.
“Afenyo-Markin saved the country from that spectacle, he demonstrated maturity and decorum by pulling his forces back, he demonstrated maturity,” Dr Zato said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, October 26.
It is recalled that Afenyo-Markin indicated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is a law-abiding party and, therefore, will at all times act within the framework of the law.
The NPP lawmakers therefore retreated to their offices from the chamber of parliament an awaited the speaker to arrive to commence proceedings.
Background
Addressing a press conference at Parliament on Tuesday, October 22, he said “We are law-abiding, we have heard that our colleagues say they disagreed with the Supreme Court, using unprinted words on the Supreme Court. Ato Forson led the Minority caucus where they told Ghanaians that today they will come and occupy our seats by their own proclamation. NPP, our tradition is a law-abiding tradition, our forebearers always used the courts to correct the wrongs.
“Our leaders had always used civil advocacy and the courts to ensure that we get the peace that we have today. The country is hereby informed that we will not give that lawless platform that NDC is seeking, we will not give them that theatre they so aggressively seek to destroy our democracy
“We know there are innocent Ghanaians going about their business, academia, and those struggling, we care about them we understand that there is politics but we must do it in a civil manner. we believe that we should quietly yield to them and wait for Mr Speaker.
“Mr Speaker has been part of democracy since 1992, he is a senior lawyer, and even if he disagrees with the Supreme Court he knows what to do. The nation is looking up to Mr Speaker…this is a crucial moment for him to add weight to what we have done to preserve the peace, NPP is for Peace. We will not allow anybody to disturb the peace of this country, it is a notorious fact that we remain the Majority caucus of this house. We are leaving this chamber to our office awaiting Mr Speaker. That lawless theater we will not share with them.”
The Supreme Court on Friday, October 18 directed Parliament to recognise and allow the four MPs to continue to serve as lawmakers until the case is determined. This was after the Speaker had, on Thursday, October 17, declared four seats in Parliament vacant.
The constituencies and the lawmakers are:
1. Cynthia Morrison, the current NPP MP for Agona West constituency in the Central Region, who has filed to run as an independent candidate.
2. Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for the Suhum constituency in the Eastern Region, who has also filed to run as an independent candidate.
3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region, who has filed to run in the upcoming election as a candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
4. Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), NDC.
The former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu had petitioned the Speaker to declare the seats vacant by invoking Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution which stipulates that a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they leave the party under which they were elected or attempt to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate. The Majority Leader Afenyo-Markin had filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the petition filed by Haruna Iddrisu.
But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers said that they would stick to the ruling of the speaker declaring four seats vacant, a ruling that makes them the Majority in Parliament.
This was despite the Supreme Court order that stayed the execution of the ruling of Speaker Alban Bagbin,
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