In a bold and significant address on the political dynamics in Ghana’s 8th Parliament, Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament, addressed the press after having been declared the new majority status for his party following the Speaker of Parliament’s ruling on four vacant seats.
The press conference was held in the wake of the Speaker’s declaration of the four seats as vacant due to the conduct of the Members of Parliament (MPs) involved, shifting the power balance in the chamber.
In his speech, Hon. Ato Forson drew attention to a similar precedent set on Saturday, November 7, 2020, which involved Hon. Andrew Asiamah Amoako. At that time, Hon. Amoako, then an MP for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had filed to contest the 2020 elections as an independent candidate, prompting the NPP to petition the Speaker of Parliament.
Hon. Ato Forson highlighted the swift action taken by the then Speaker, Prof. Mike Aaron Ocquaye, in removing Hon. Amoako from Parliament based on the constitutional provisions.
“Right Honorable Mike Aaron Ocquaye concluded that Article 97(1) automatically kicked in without the need for any court order,” Hon. Ato Forson recounted. He emphasized that no one challenged this decision, setting a clear precedent for future cases of MPs breaching their party’s standing.
Speaker Bagbin’s Response and the Declaration of Vacancies
Moving forward to the present situation, Hon. Ato Forson described how the current Speaker of Parliament, Right Hon. Alban Bagbin, handled the issue of the four MPs whose conduct was in question.
According to Hon. Ato Forson, the Speaker allowed for comments from the floor, following parliamentary standing orders, before requesting two days to reflect on the matter.
On Tuesday, October 17, 2024, Speaker Bagbin issued his ruling, declaring the four seats vacant, a decision Hon. Ato Forson praised as being based on fact and constitutional interpretation.
“Mr. Speaker proceeded to evaluate the circumstances and decided that their conduct breached Article 97(1) (g) and (h). Pursuant to Order 18 of the standing orders, the Right Honorable Speaker communicated to the house the vacancies of the four seats.”
Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson Majority -Minority in Parliament
A Shift in Parliamentary Power: The NDC Becomes the Majority
With the Speaker’s declaration, the composition of Parliament shifted, leaving the NDC with 136 seats and the NPP with 135 seats, effectively making the NDC the majority party.
This shift also removed the second deputy Speaker of Parliament from office, a position previously held by one of the MPs whose seat was declared vacant. Hon. Ato Forson highlighted the significance of this change.
“The NPP group in Parliament are now the minority caucus, as defined by the relevant sections of Order 6 of the standing orders of Parliament. The minority caucus means, members of the party or parties that have the second largest number of seats in Parliament.”
Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson Majority -Minority in Parliament
This announcement was followed by a triumphant declaration of the NDC’s new status as the majority caucus.
“The NDC MPs in Parliament now constitute the majority caucus in line with the standing orders of Ghana’s Parliament. Fellow countrymen and women, the NDC now constitute the majority caucus in this 8th Parliament.”
Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson Majority -Minority in Parliament
The NDC’s Commitment to Protect its Majority Status
“We will jealously protect our newly majority status and will not bow, retreat, nor surrender our lawfully earned status.”
Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson Majority -Minority in Parliament
He also vowed that the NDC would leverage its majority to introduce bills that would alleviate the suffering of Ghanaians.
“It is indeed true that we will use our new majority numbers to benefit Ghanaians by introducing private members’ bills to remove the E-Levy and reduce the suffering of the people of Ghana.”
Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson Majority -Minority in Parliament
Reversing the NPP’s Policies and Safeguarding Ghana’s Interests
Hon. Ato Forson took the opportunity to reiterate the NDC’s commitment to reversing the policies introduced by the NPP, which he described as damaging to Ghana’s economy and businesses.
He assured the public that the NDC would use its majority to “protect businesses and the people of Ghana as we have always maintained.”
He also lauded Speaker Bagbin’s leadership, describing him as a “courageous and resolute leader” with a 32-year distinguished parliamentary career. Hon. Ato Forson commended Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin for acting “fairly, firmly, and lawfully in a matter that is perfectly within his province,” adding that the NDC caucus stood firmly behind the Speaker and his decisions.
A Call to Resist Oppressive Rule and Fight for the People of Ghana
In his closing remarks, Hon. Ato Forson called on all Ghanaians to stand by Speaker Bagbin and the NDC’s leadership in Parliament. He urged the public to resist any form of oppressive rule and interference with Parliament’s business, which he deemed “unlawful, unacceptable, and shall be resisted.”
“From day one, we have not reneged on our fight for the people of Ghana,” Hon. Ato Forson declared, reinforcing the NDC’s commitment to championing the interests of ordinary Ghanaians.
He concluded by pledging that the NDC’s new majority would work tirelessly to reverse the “Akufo-Addo-Bawumia mess” and restore the country to the right track.
Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson’s address to the press marked a pivotal moment in Ghana’s 8th Parliament, as the NDC assumed its new majority status.
With a clear mandate from the Speaker’s ruling and a commitment to using their majority for the benefit of the people, Hon. Ato Forson’s message resonated as a powerful call to action for the NDC and the broader Ghanaian populace.
READ ALSO; Wizkid Announces ‘Morayo’ Album Release Date
