The Leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused Speaker Alban Bagbin of setting the country on fire.
He also called on the Speaker to demonstrate statesmanship, following the Speaker’s decision to adjourn Parliament indefinitely once again.
This comes on the back of the Members of Parliament for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) occupying the majority side of parliament again as Parliament reconvenes today, Thursday, November 7, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The office of the Speaker of Parliament released a statement calling for the resumption of parliament.
This follows the indefinite adjournment of parliamentary proceedings on October 22, 2024.
NPP caucus boycotted Parliament as a result of the NDC caucus occupying the seats on the right side of Speaker.
Speaking at a press briefing this afternoon, Afenyo-Markin expressed disappointment with what he described as the Speaker’s “no reconciliatory posture” during his recent press conference. He urged the Speaker to reconsider his approach and work towards uniting the House.
“Speaker is setting the country on fire. Yesterday we were disappointed with his no reconciliatory posture during his press conference. Indeed we the majority caucus call on Mr Speaker one more time to demonstrate statesmanship. We want Mr Speaker to know that although we were not happy the day he was elected, some of our colleagues perhaps, have seen something good in him, it wasn’t the NDC that put him there to do the bidding of the NDC. Perhaps people felt that he could be someone who would bring all of us together”, he noted.
Afenyo-Markin further criticized the Speaker’s recent pronouncements regarding his respect for the constitution while simultaneously refusing to submit to the directives of the judiciary. He argued that the Speaker’s actions are reminiscent of the NDC’s potential response if they were to lose power, creating chaos and confusion.
“Mr. Speaker is hurting democracy. What Mr. Speaker is doing is rehearsing what the NDC is likely to do should they lose power to bring chaos to cause confusion. How can Mr Speaker say that he respects the constitution but will not be subject to the dictates of the judiciary”, Afenyo Makin stated.
These criticisms come at a time of heightened tension within Parliament after the Supreme Court ordered the Speaker to reinstall the vacant seats. The recent indefinite adjournment of Parliament has further fueled concerns about the functionality of the legislative body and its ability to effectively address national issues.
Afenyo-Markin’s call for statesmanship from the Speaker reflects the NPP’s desire for a more collaborative and less confrontational approach to parliamentary proceedings. The NPP is hoping that the Speaker will prioritize national unity and the smooth functioning of Parliament over partisan interests.
