‘NPP caucus is shooting itself in the foot’ over vacant seats controversy – Ansa-Asare

The position taken by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in Parliament over recent developments in the House is what is causing them the challenges they are facing now.

A former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, who is making the comments has asked the caucus to stop blaming anyone for their predicaments and that of the government but themselves.

According to him, recent comments by the leader of the NPP caucus of the House, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, shows he is overwhelmed with frustrations and emotions.

Ansa-Asare asserts Afenyo-Markin’s belief that his predicaments are being caused by the Speaker is erroneous.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues Sunday, November 10, 2024, the private legal practitioner stated that the party has shot itself in the foot with with the recent impasse in Parliament.

“He has been overwhelmed with emotions, and frustration. He believes it is the Rt. Hon. Speaker who is causing problems for him but on this occasion, it is the NPP caucus that is shooting itself in the foot,” he stated.

His comments come on the back of the brouhaha in Parliament which has led to the House being adjourned indefinitely between two weeks.

Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on Thursday, November 07, 2024, adjourned the House indefinitely for the second time, following an earlier one on Tuesday, October 22, when in both instances, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members boycotted sitting.

This was because the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members had taken the seats on the right hand of the Speaker after claiming to be majority.

The NPP MPs, who also insisted they are majority boycotted the House with the Speaker having no option than to adjourn Parliament for lack of quorum in the first instance.

During the last sitting where he adjourned the House again, the Business Committee could not present any agenda for discussion forcing him to end proceedings and adjourn sitting sine dine.

The controversy, stems from a ruling the Speaker made on Thursday, October 17, where he declared some four seats vacant because their occupants have chosen to do business with different political parties or contest as independent candidates in the upcoming elections.

The ruling was stayed by the Supreme Court bringing confusion over who currently occupies majority or minority in the House.

Source:onuaonline.com