In a sharp critique following Speaker Bagbin’s adjournment of Parliament, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament, has made scathing remarks against the NDC Caucus, accusing them of fomenting disorder in Parliament and placing blame on Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin for allegedly failing to maintain order.
Hon. Afenyo Markin’s critique underscored concerns over the Speaker’s perceived bias and the implications for Ghana’s democratic principles.
The New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency, in his remarks described a series of events that, according to him, exemplified the Speaker’s leniency towards the NDC’s actions.
“At the said pre-sitting meeting, I, on behalf of my colleagues, the majority, inquired from Mr Speaker, whether our friends who were seated to his rights would be allowed by him to sit there because that was not their rightful place in view of his own admission that he had not proclaimed them as such nor declared them as such. Speaker responded that indeed, the sitting arrangement of parliament was the responsibility of the clerk to parliament.
“This took me to the next step of inquiring from the clerk whether he allowed the NDC minority to sit on our seats. He said, indeed, we had our name tagged, that is the NPP majority, had their name tagged at those seats that we already occupied. And that it was not he who did that. So obviously, one was expecting Mr Speaker to direct the NDC to do the right thing. He refused”.
Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament
According to the NPP leader, prominent figures, including members of the Council of State and the Peace Council, were involved in discussions aimed at ensuring a fair seating arrangement.
These engagements, Hon. Afenyo Markin stated, affirmed that Speaker Bagbin had not officially recognized the NDC as the majority, reinforcing the NPP’s expectation that the Speaker would order the NDC back to their appropriate seats.
“What Mr Speaker did today amounts to supervising chaos and bringing the image of democracy to disrepute. The NDC minority members were all over claiming that we, the majority, did not attend a so-called business committee meeting that they called. Who are they? When did we constitute a new committee in parliament?
“I chaired the business committee of parliament. And when the clerk to parliament asked for the business committee meeting, I was very explicit that the subject matter of the recall, which was approved by Mr. Speaker, is a very matter for consideration. So there’s no need to have another business committee”.
Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament
Accusations of Supervising Chaos and the NDC’s Role and Alleged Strategy
Hon. Afenyo Markin further criticized Speaker Bagbin’s recent press conference, accusing him of failing to reconcile the discord in the chamber.
The NPP leader lamented what he viewed as Speaker Bagbin’s reluctance to act decisively, which he claimed emboldened the NDC’s disruptive behavior.
The NPP Caucus leader did not hold back in his portrayal of the NDC’s intentions, asserting that their conduct was a deliberate attempt to portray Ghana as lawless and obstruct critical legislative processes.
“Right now, what the NDC has done, basically, are the following; They don’t want Ghanaians particularly public servants to receive their pay, because they know that after the elections, there will be no budget. And to be able to pay Ghanaian workers, there will be the need for parliamentary approval of the budget.
“That’s, is a constitutional requirement; they want to stampede it. Two, they want to, again, create a certain impression that Ghana is lawless but. Ghana is not lawless. We’ll not allow them to give a wrong impression to the international community. We will respect the law”.
Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament
He also alleged that the NDC members in parliament are seeking to obstruct the passage of essential bills, including the Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill, by conspiring with Speaker Bagbin to block its progress.
“Their main target is the Free SHS Bill,” Hon. Afenyo Markin argued, emphasizing that the bill’s delay would frustrate parents and undermine the NPP’s achievements.
“So it’s an opportunity for them to, as it were, prevent the free SHS bill from being, passed. And if they succeed in doing that, to them, in their wishful minds, in their wishful thinking, parents will get upset and then say that after all, the free SHS was not working. The free SHS has benefited many Ghanaians in spite of the challenges.”
Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament
He claimed that the NDC’s end goal was to stoke public dissatisfaction by hampering key initiatives that have benefited numerous Ghanaians.
Judicial Disputes and Speaker’s Conduct
The Effutu lawmaker detailed his caucus’s legal approach to resolving the parliamentary impasse, referencing a pending Supreme Court case regarding the Speaker’s ruling.
He criticized Speaker Bagbin’s post-ruling remarks during a press conference, accusing him of defying the judiciary after initially accepting its jurisdiction.
According to Hon. Afenyo Markin, the Speaker’s sudden reversal, marked by criticisms of the court’s judgment, reflected poorly on his commitment to upholding democratic norms.
“How can you say that you respect the constitution but refuse to abide by the dictates of the judiciary?” Hon. Afenyo Markin questioned. He expressed disappointment at the Speaker’s contradictory stance, warning that such behavior sets a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s democratic stability.
Upholding the Rule of Law nd A Call for Statesmanship
Amidst his criticism, Hon. Afenyo Markin emphasized the NPP’s adherence to the rule of law. “NPP, our tradition is to respect rule of law. It’s out of deference to Mr. Speaker that we did not enter the chamber,” he noted, implying that the party’s decision to abstain from proceedings was to avoid escalating the situation into physical confrontations.
He urged the media to scrutinize the actions of the NDC and Speaker Bagbin, holding them accountable for what he described as an orchestrated attempt to undermine parliamentary order and governance.
The NPP leader called on Speaker Bagbin to act with statesmanship and impartiality to preserve the integrity of Parliament and Ghana’s democratic framework. “Mr. Speaker is hurting democracy,” Hon. Afenyo Markin asserted, stressing the need for unity and respect for institutional processes.
He reiterated the NPP’s commitment to addressing disagreements through lawful means and called on Ghanaians to recognize and reject any attempts to destabilize the nation’s democratic progress.
The unfolding parliamentary drama highlights the deep-seated tensions between the two major political factions, with the leadership of both sides under intense scrutiny.
As the NPP vows to pursue legal recourse and the NDC remains defiant, the path forward for Ghana’s legislature remains uncertain.
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