Parliament should keep away from a scenario of seeming chaos and anarchy Tuesday – Gabby
A number one member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere-Darko has requested Members of Parliament to exhibit maturity in how they deal with the tremendous courtroom order that stays the execution of the ruling of the speaker in declaring 4 seats vacant.
He referred to as on the House to keep away from a seeming scenario of chaos and anarchy.
“Parliament must, by all means, avoid a situation of seeming chaos and anarchy Tuesday. I suggest the two Leaders and Speaker meet before then to agree or agree to disagree on next steps. Not long to Dec 7, let maturity be our guide and guard,” he wrote on Facebook.
His feedback come at a time when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers stated they’d persist with the ruling of the speaker declaring 4 seats vacant, a ruling that makes them the Majority in Parliament.
This is regardless of the Supreme Court order that stays the execution of the ruling of speaker Alban Bagbin.
Addressing a press convention in Parliament on Sunday, October 20, chief of the NDC lawmakers, Dr Cassiel Ato Foprson stated that “We will jealously protect our new Majority status and will not bow, retreat nor surrender our lawfully earned status. We will also not abdicate our responsibility to the people no matter what! Nothing, absolutely nothing, will change this position! We are fortified that the ‘proceedings’ of Parliament ‘shall not’ be ‘impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.’ Any interference with the business of Parliament is unlawful, unacceptable and shall be resisted. We have never hidden our position that we are in this Parliament for the ordinary Ghanaian.”
The Supreme Court on Friday, October 18 directed Parliament to recognise and permit the 4 MPs to proceed to function lawmakers till the case is set. This was after the Speaker had, on Thursday, October 17, declared 4 seats in Parliament vacant.
The constituencies and the lawmakers are:
1. Cynthia Morrison, the present NPP MP for Agona West constituency within the Central Region, who has filed to run as an impartial candidate.
2. Kwadwo Asante, the present NPP MP for the Suhum constituency within the Eastern Region, who has additionally filed to run as an impartial candidate.
3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, presently an impartial MP for the Fomena constituency within the Ashanti Region, who has filed to run within the upcoming election as a candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
4. Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), NDC.
The former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu had petitioned the Speaker to declare the seats vacant by invoking Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution which stipulates {that a} lawmaker should vacate their seat in the event that they go away the celebration below which they had been elected or try to stay in Parliament as an impartial candidate.
The Majority Leader Afenyo-Markin had filed a go well with on the Supreme Court towards the petition filed by Haruna Iddrisu.
