Majority Whip and South Dayi MP, Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor, has declared the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) unwavering determination to secure all parliamentary seats it believes were unfairly lost in the last general election.
With the party currently holding 187 seats, including four independent Members of Parliament caucusing with them, Hon. Dafeamekpor said the NDC is not resting on its electoral achievements.
“We are still in court over a couple of seats that we are fighting to recover,” he said, underscoring the party’s strategic intent to consolidate power in Parliament and secure a firmer legislative mandate under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Hon. Dafeamekpor confirmed that the party is actively pursuing contested seats such as Ablekuma North through legal means.
He, however, dismissed claims that some NDC MPs were disgruntled due to a lack of ministerial appointments. He further rejected suggestions that his colleagues were idle, unhappy, or being neglected within the party’s power structure.
“I disagree with that submission. My MPs are not hungry. They are not idle. And they are not jobless. They are not”
Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor, Majority Whip and South Dayi MP
Hon. Dafeamekpor linked the party’s parliamentary success to a campaign promise made by then-flagbearer Mahama, who pledged to run a lean government of just 60 ministers.
“Because when the flag bearer, now President, John Dramani Mahama promised to appoint only 60 ministers and which even compelled Dr. Bawumia to also volunteer 50, we took that up as respective NDC candidates in the various constituencies and campaigned with it”
Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor, Majority Whip and South Dayi MP
He added that Mahama’s promise resonated with the electorates and contributed to the high turnout in favour of the NDC. “I can say without an equivocation that that kind of promise also endeared President Mahama to the people.”
Hon. Dafeamekpor further revealed that the President is currently operating with only 56 ministers, staying below the promised cap. According to him, this has allowed more MPs to be appointed to statutory boards, maintaining a sense of engagement and responsibility within the party’s legislative cohort.
Parliamentary Strength
Addressing the issue of parliamentary arithmetic, Hon. Dafeamekpor reiterated that the NDC holds a clear two-thirds majority in the current Ninth Parliament.
“We are 187, that is 183 NDC solid MPs, unadulterated – then we have four independent entities who are caucusing with us. And once you caucus with us, you are aligned with us”
Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor, Majority Whip and South Dayi MP
He noted that the party’s current strength gives it considerable legislative power. “We can do anything we want in the house. We can turn a woman into a man in this house,” he declared, emphasizing the influence the party commands in the chamber.
For Hon. Dafeamekpor, the fight for more seats is about safeguarding parliamentary dominance, not out of desperation or excess.
“When the voters give you a mandate, you don’t take it for granted. And under no circumstance would we say that we have too much because numbers in parliament are like raindrops. They come in one by one”
Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor, Majority Whip and South Dayi MP
In a sharp rebuke, Hon. Dafeamekpor accused Minority Leader Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin of engaging in “politics laden with mischief.” He dismissed suggestions from Afenyo-Markin that NDC MPs are disgruntled or that the majority side could soon fail to attend parliamentary sittings.
“You must understand Afenyo’s politics – he throws out things,” Hon. Dafeamekpor said, stressing that such remarks were meant to cause confusion and apprehension but had no basis in fact.
“The opposition can put those stories out but me as the majority whip, I am yet to hear that there’s grumbling. Every MP is very happy. Committees have been formed”
Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor, Majority Whip and South Dayi MP
Hon. Dafeamekpor added that those NDC MPs who were not appointed ministers were being placed on various statutory boards.
“A lot of boards are being inaugurated with MPs having the privilege of serving on those boards as part of the exercise of oversight”
Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor, Majority Whip and South Dayi MP
As the NDC consolidates its hold in Parliament, Hon. Dafeamekpor’s message was clear: the party is organized, content, and poised to claim every inch of electoral ground it believes belongs to it.
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