The National Democratic Congress Director of Legal Affairs, Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo has strongly criticized the NPP and its parliamentary leadership, particularly Lawyer Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, over their failure to achieve consensus on critical government business.
Lawyer Edudzi Tameklo, in his scathing critique, pointed out that although the Effutu MP and the ruling party’s leader in Parliament, who was the Majority Leader before Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant, won a crucial judicial battle, he ultimately lost the broader political war in Parliament.
“As the then Majority Leader, his responsibility is to get Government business done. Two major businesses of this Government are getting the approval of the President’s nominees to the Supreme Court and more importantly, the tax waivers ( some say last-minute campaign money). Has the Supreme Court ruling helped to achieve the above?”
Lawyer Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, NDC Director of Legal Affairs
According to Lawyer Edudzi Tameklo, despite the Supreme Court ruling favouring the NPP, the government has not succeeded in achieving either goal, underscoring a fundamental failure in parliamentary strategy.
“The government was desperately seeking these tax waivers,” he continued, “but now, it has all fallen apart. They needed to learn the importance of building consensus. Can you compel Parliament to sit?” he questioned, highlighting the limits of judicial power in the parliamentary process.
With Parliament suspended indefinitely by Speaker Alban Bagbin, Lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe opined that key government business, including the approval of the Supreme Court nominees, tax waivers, and critical bills and instruments, remains in limbo.
He pointed to NPP as the ultimate loser in this scenario. “Speaker Bagbin is an old fox,” he remarked, emphasizing that the NPP cannot expect to always get its way in Parliament without the necessary consensus-building efforts.
Speaker Bagbin Lauded
In a similar vein, Hon. Rockson Etse Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for Adaklu, lauded Speaker Bagbin’s decision to adjourn Parliament “sine die,” or indefinitely, citing Articles 102 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution.
These articles according to him, stipulate that Parliament requires a quorum of one-third of members to commence sitting but needs a majority to make decisions.
Hon. Dafeamekpor noted that Parliament met the commencement quorum but lacked the decisional quorum, forcing Speaker Bagbin to suspend proceedings.
“Fantastic!!!! By the logic of some, he has just interpreted the Constitution so I guess another Writ shall lie to challenge that? Or? One of the cardinal rules of Constitutional interpretation is that it must never lead to absurd consequences yet, here we are…”
Hon. Rockson Etse Nelson-Dafeamekpor Esq., MP for Adaklu Constituency
Hon. Dafeamekpor also referenced Bagbin’s earlier reliance on Article 97(1)(g)(h), which deals with the status of MPs who have filed to run as independent candidates, highlighting that the law must produce one outcome and not two contradictory results.
This, he noted is a pointed reminder that the Speaker’s decisions were consistent with constitutional provisions, despite the controversy they have stirred.
NPP’s Commitment to Governance
Meanwhile, Hon. Alhassan S. Suhuyini, MP for Tamale North, took a broader view of the situation, questioning the NPP government’s commitment to governance.
Hon. Suhuyini contended that the party in government does not necessarily need to hold a majority to govern effectively but must show a willingness to prioritize governance over political gamesmanship.
“We have always put ourselves and our services available to assist them to govern. In the minority or our current state as the majority, we are ready to help them govern. But if they are not ready to govern and they are interested in playing politics, then, I think that we will all continue to play politics”.
Hon. Alhassan S. Suhuyini, MP Tamale North
However, he noted that the government seemed more interested in political maneuvering than substantive governance.
The National Democratic Congress MP also commended Speaker Bagbin for his decisive leadership amid the current parliamentary impasse.
“If you look at the mood of the country, his decision is the best for now,”, Hon. Suhuyini said, suggesting that the Speaker’s move allows for a “reset” ahead of the December 2024 general elections.
The indefinite adjournment has effectively frozen government business, raising questions about how critical matters such as the Supreme Court appointments, tax waivers, and other legislative instruments will be addressed.
With only weeks left before Parliament breaks for the election season, the ruling government would find itself in a precarious position, unable to push through its agenda and facing a united opposition unwilling to cede ground if nothing changes.
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