The Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has lashed out at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus’ recent parliamentary recall, terming it a futile manoeuvre that ignores constitutional imperatives.
In a sharply worded critique, Hon. Ablakwa expressed doubt over the practicality of the New Patriotic Party Caucus in Parliament’s latest recall of Parliament following Speaker Bagbin’s indefinite adjournment.
According to Hon. Ablakwa, the recall—initiated through Article 112(3) by a one-third minority of members—lacks the numerical backing required under Article 104(1) for the NPP to effect any binding decision within the House.
Hon. Ablakwa emphasized that, although the one-third requirement to recall Parliament has been met, significant hurdles remain when the Speaker convenes the House.
“If the speaker takes the role and the speaker is certainly going to insist that based on clear provisions under article 97, and clear parliamentary precedence as I’ve been reading this morning, the 4 seats are vacant.
“Do you know what that means? Under Article 104(1), the NPP side will not have the numbers to take any decision. So the House will be adjourned again sine die. So what are they going to achieve?”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
Constitutional Constraints and Implications for the NPP
Explaining further, Hon. Ablakwa pointed out that Article 104(1) of Ghana’s Constitution requires that decisions in Parliament be determined by a majority of members present and voting, contingent on at least half of all Members of Parliament being present.
Hon. Ablakwa stressed that with four seats vacant, as acknowledged in precedents and Article 97, the NPP cannot meet this quorum without the participation of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus.
“The NPP side doesn’t have the numbers. They can’t achieve any substantive outcome without us. If we in the NDC decide to boycott, there will be no quorum under Article 104 to make any binding decisions”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
Furthermore, the National Democratic Congress lawmaker pointed out that the Speaker of Parliament lacks both an original and casting vote, meaning that if votes on any motion are equally split, the motion is effectively lost.
This, he argued, adds another dimension to the NPP’s inability to achieve any legislative aims through the recall session.
Criticism of Supreme Court’s Involvement
In his critique, Hon. Ablakwa also criticized the judiciary’s involvement in parliamentary works, calling them part of a larger pattern of “bastardization of our institutions.”
He cited Justice William Atuguba, former justice of the Supreme Court’s recent remarks, which questioned the involvement of the Supreme Court in matters traditionally under parliamentary jurisdiction.
“The Supreme Court should not have been invited in this matter at all,” Hon. Ablakwa argued, supporting Justice Atuguba’s contention that such involvement risks politicizing the judiciary and eroding public trust.
According to Hon. Ablakwa, this type of judicial overreach has fueled public scepticism about the Court’s impartiality and the independence of Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Addressing the broader implications, Hon. Ablakwa asserted that the recall episode reveals a concerning trend of executive overreach and disregard for parliamentary authority.
He warned that such actions set dangerous precedents that may weaken Parliament’s standing as an autonomous branch of government.
“Do you think that this is the way forward? Do you think that the speaker is going to allow his authority as the leader of the legislative arm to be undermined? Who is going to align with those partisan decisions by parliamentary candidates sitting on the Supreme Court, Ernest Yao Gaewu and his gang?”.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu Constituency
He further noted that the NPP’s approach, combined with judicial interventions, has cast Ghana’s democratic processes in a poor light internationally.
He expressed scepticism that this recall can yield any constructive outcome, viewing it instead as a political gambit destined for failure.
“Where are we going? Do you see any clear path forward?” he asked, pointing to what he sees as a lack of strategy and vision from the NPP.
He insisted that, without a path to genuine parliamentary consensus, such recalls serve only to deepen divisions and stoke tensions within Ghana’s political landscape.
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