Vacant seats saga: Afenyo-Markin and Ato Forson sign memos to Speaker as ‘Majority Leader’

Following the verdict by the Supreme Court on the declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant by Speaker Alban Bagbin, one would have expected that the controversy that arose over which party forms the Majority or Minority in Parliament would have been resolved.

The verdict by the Apex Court on November 12, 2024 declared Alban Bagbin’s ruling of the four vacant seats as unconstitutional, giving credence to the Majority status of the NPP MPs in Parliament.
That is to say, positions in the House would have reverted to the status quo ante (before Speaker Bagbin declared the seats vacant).




On November 22 therefore, Mr Afenyo-Markin, petitioned Speaker Bagbin to recall Parliament for “high priority business of Government” to be considered.

Among others, these businesses include the request for tax exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme; Ghana Financial Stability Fund, an International Development Association facility of Two Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars ($250,000,000) and the consideration of the President’s Nominations for Appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.

Others are the ratification of the mining lease agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (Represented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources) and the Ashanti Bauxite Company Limited for the Mining of Bauxite in the Nyinahini Block 2 Area in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region as well as the ratification of the mining lease agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (Represented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources) and Barari DV Ghana Limited for the Exploitation of Lithium at Essoym in the Central Region.

However, the MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson in a Memo dated November 25 to the Speaker of Parliament in relation to the request by MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin to recall the House, signed the document as “Majority Leader”.

Dr. Ato Forson urged the Speaker to reject Afenyo-Markin’s request for a recall of the House.

He said the request to recall the House is ill-timed and will constitute a needless drain on the Ghanaian taxpayer.

“In less than two weeks, Ghanaians will be going to the polls to elect a President and members of Parliament. Both the electorate and those running for office must be accorded these few remaining days to engage meaningfully so that the people of Ghana can make an informed choice.



“Rt. Hon. Speaker, this recall that is being requested is ill-timed and will constitute a needless drain on the Ghanaian taxpayer. We therefore respectfully urge you to reject this call in the national interest.

“Again, with barely eleven (11) days to the elections, a recall of the House at this time will only fuel the unresolved stalemate that has prevailed in recent time. We must avoid anything that has the potential to disturb the peace of our country and stability of our democracy. Rather, let us prioritise the conduct of credible, peaceful, free and fair elections at this stage.

“I therefore suggest a leadership meeting after the elections to resolve the stalemate and to agree on a suitable date to recall the House to consider any outstanding Government Business.”

Source:3news.com