The Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, following the declaration by the Speaker of Parliament to declare four Parlaimentary seats vacant, has announced an indefinite boycott of parliamentary proceedings.
The affected parliamentarians include, Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum) and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central). These members of Parliament have decieded to contest the upcoming 2024 elections as independent candidates while Andrew Asiamah (Fomena) has decided to contest on the ticket of the NPP.
Bagbin’s ruling, based on constitutional provisions, holds that by declaring their independent candidacies or cross-carpeting to other political parties, the MPs have effectively vacated their parliamentary positions.
This has now led the Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to assume Majority in Parliament as it now occupies 136 seats with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) now left with 135 seats.
The Majority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who led the NPP MP’s walkout, had earlier filed legal action with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, October 15, seeking to halt the Minority’s petition to the Speaker concerning the fate of these MPs.
While speaking to the meddia after the walk out, he accused the Speaker of aligning himself with the NDC and obstructing legal procedures.
“We as the Majority caucus immediately are boycotting parliament until this matter is determined by the Supreme Court. The speaker has no right to interpret the constitution, and it is so clear that what he did was to give an advantage to the NDC and do the bidding of the NDC.
“We are not going further to litigate. We have a process at the court, we will follow it up. If the court makes a pronouncement we will respect the orders of the court” he stated.