The Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus will assume the majority position when Parliament reconvenes on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
Citing Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution, Agbodza argued that it legitimises the vacant seats, supporting his claim to take up the position.
According to a report by citinewsroom.com, he made these remarks at Adaklu Ahunda in the Volta Region during a recent tour by the NDC’s running mate, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
“I do not intend to be called Minority Leader in 2024, and that will not happen. I am set to attend Parliament on Thursday in my role as Majority Chief Whip, and I will return still holding the position of Majority Chief Whip.
Anyone who doesn’t like it can do as they please. In my view, the four colleagues have indeed left their seats as per Article 97. “And since they have decided not to contest, they are no longer valid Members of Parliament,” he said.
The Speaker’s action comes after he called for Parliament to resume, as stated in Article 112 (3) of the Constitution. This session was convened following a request from the NPP caucus on October 23, 2024, highlighting the importance of addressing urgent national issues such as tax exemptions for the One District One Factory (1D1F) program, a $250 million allocation to the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, and six key bills, including the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, the Budget Bill, and the Intestate Succession Bill.
In their statement, the NPP caucus noted that Parliament’s recent adjournment had left several critical issues unresolved due to controversies surrounding the vacant seats of the four MPs. Despite the Speaker’s decision on the vacant seats, the Supreme Court has issued a restraining order pausing its immediate implementation.
