The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman, has labelled the NPP caucus’ recent parliamentary boycott as a “bad strategy,” arguing that their actions have only worsened the current political impasse.
Speaking on Starr Today with Tutuwaa Danso on Thursday, November 7, Dr. Draman criticized the NPP caucus for their absence, suggesting that they should have engaged in Parliament and raised their concerns directly.
“The strategy of the NPP is the bad one I think,” Dr. Rasheed noted. “The strategy of the NPP would have been one where they will show up in the house and raised the issue about what happened before and what the supreme court said.”
The NPP caucus’ boycott stemmed from their dissatisfaction with Speaker Alban Bagbin’s actions regarding the four seats declared vacant by the Speaker, a decision later overturned by the Supreme Court. The NPP initiated the recall of Parliament after its adjournment on October 22, 2024, only to boycott the proceedings after the recall.
However, Dr. Draman urged both sides in Parliament to prioritize dialogue and find a common ground before triggering any further recalls.
“They should make sure that back-home work has been done. The need for the two sides to sit down, agree on what they are going to do, so that everybody would be on the same page,” he stated.
Dr. Draman’s comments highlight the growing concern over the dysfunctional state of Parliament, with the current impasse hindering its ability to effectively conduct business.
His call for constructive dialogue and compromise underscores the importance of finding a way to resolve the ongoing issues and restore functional governance within the legislative body.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/John Bodza
