The Parliament’s Minority Leader,Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, , called for a strategic approach in addressing the current economic challenges.
Cassiel Ato Forson has restated his caucus’s commitment to safeguarding their parliamentary majority in light of a Supreme Court decision that has temporarily halted Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
The occurrence was a result of three incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) announcing their plans to run as independent candidates in the 2024 general elections.
In addition, Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Amoako Asiamah, who had originally been elected as an independent candidate, disclosed his intention to run in the upcoming elections under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket.
Speaker Bagbin’s decision threatened to alter the balance of power in Parliament by giving the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus a slight advantage of 136 MPs over the NPP’s 135. This potential shift could have made the NDC the majority party in the House.
However, the Supreme Court intervened with a unanimous decision to suspend the implementation of Speaker Bagbin’s declaration, preventing the immediate vacancy of the seats and maintaining the current parliamentary composition. Despite the court ruling, Dr. (same text as the rest of the paragraph).
Ato Forson, addressing the media during a press briefing on Sunday, October 20, emphasized the commitment of the Minority Caucus to uphold their perceived majority status. He asserted that they would vigilantly protect their position and affirmed their determination to persist in seeking what they consider to be equitable representation in Parliament.
He pointed out that as a result of the Speaker’s announcement, there are currently no independent members of parliament. The NPP consists of 135 members, causing a notable shift in parliamentary composition. The NPP group now functions as the minority caucus, as outlined in Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
The minority caucus comprises members of the party or parties with the second highest number of parliamentary seats.
“The NDC MPs currently form the majority caucus in the 8th Parliament.” We are determined to safeguard our recently acquired majority status and will not yield or capitulate our rightfully earned position,” he affirmed.
Dr. Forson also seized the chance to condemn the Supreme Court’s interference in a situation he deemed related to Parliament’s autonomy. He contended that the judiciary’s participation in legislative matters raised concerns about the distribution of power among governmental branches.
