The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament has refused to attend a three-day orientation program for members of the 9th Parliament.
The program, which started on March 1, 2025, in Ho, aims to help MPs and Parliament staff do their jobs better. However, the Minority has opted out, citing concerns over the venue selection and high costs.
According to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the ongoing retreat at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho, the Minority’s decision to boycott the program is “unacceptable.”
Speaker Bagbin expressed disappointment, saying that the Minority’s absence means they will miss out on a valuable learning opportunity. “We lost a great opportunity because the turbulence of Parliament has once again shown itself,” he stated.
The Speaker explained that the venue was chosen in a fair and transparent manner. “A team searched for venues and considered factors like cost, facilities, and convenience,” Bagbin said. “The selection was not based on party affiliations”.
The Minority claims they were not consulted in the venue selection process and that the program is too expensive. The Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, stated that their decision to boycott is “principled” and based on their commitment to reducing costs.
Interestingly, the Second Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament for Fomena, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, attended the opening ceremony despite his caucus’ boycott.
