Professor Ransford Gyampo, a lecturer in political science at the University of Ghana, has urged the members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to reevaluate their choice to abstain from parliament.
He asserts that in order for the NPP Caucus to continue taking part in legislative business, it must put aside its feelings and go back to Parliament.
Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four seats vacant, shifting the balance of power in the house to the opposition NDC, prompted Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to announce on Thursday that the Caucus would boycott legislative sessions.
Following the announcement, Mr Afenyo-Markin led NPP MPs in a walkout from Parliament adding that the NPP MPs would not return until the Supreme Court makes a ruling on the matter.
But speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Prof Gyampo warned that the NPP’s decision to boycott Parliament could disrupt governance and prevent critical bills from being passed, especially with elections just weeks away.
He noted that without the NPP’s involvement in Parliament, essential government activities could come to a standstill.
“The best thing the NPP Caucus has to do is to be in Parliament and to ensure that they continue to contribute to parliamentary sittings. I don’t know what is going to happen because this means the government is essentially going to grind to a halt if Parliament is not going to do government business.
“And that is not going to augur well even though we have a few weeks to elections. We all know there are government businesses that would have to be tabled and discussed. So suddenly boycotting Parliament means all these tasks would not be done or it would be difficult,” he said on Friday.
Additionally, Professor Gyampo reminded the NPP that their 2020 actions—which he described as a misapplication and misinterpretation of the law—had had a negative impact on them.
“As I said, if you sacrifice what is right on the altar of political expediency, it comes back to haunt you. The NPP misapplied and misinterpreted the law in 2020, today the same has happened and it goes against them, I think they should just lick their wounds and not be overly emotional,” he stated.
To guarantee that the required legislation and parliamentary business are finished in the best interests of the country, he urged the NPP to work with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus.
“Go back to Parliament and see how best they can work with the NDC Caucus to ensure that the bills and other businesses that were outlined are done for the betterment and interest of mother Ghana. So staying at home and boycotting parliamentary sitting in my view is not the best thing to do.”
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Speaker Alban Bagbin announced the vacancy of four seats in Parliament, causing a change in power.
MPs Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), and Kwadjo Asante (Suhum) are all impacted by the decision. They either decided to run as independent candidates in the 2024 elections or changed their party affiliations.
Source: myjoyonline