The Minority in Parliament has asked the Majority caucus to channel its energies to solving the challenges of the country than seeking to ‘break the 8’.
The caucus is lamenting over the Majority’s relegation of duty by members to follow their flag bearer and running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to campaign.
The Minority has therefore threatened that if the Majority members do not come to Parliament in their numbers by next week, they will also frustrate government business.
Since Parliament resumed in July, there have hardly been 30 NPP MPs present, leaving the Minority to carry the burden of doing government business.
This comes days after NPP Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known Nana Poku (NAPO), was unveiled as running mate to Dr. Bawumia.
Speaking on the floor Friday, July 12, 2024, the Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, noted that if the MPs fail to attend sittings in their numbers by next week, they will invoke portions of Constitution to force them to the House.
“As I speak to you, flag bearer is in north, running mate is in south campaigning. Instead of telling them to come and do government work, meanwhile you have four months one week to be in government. Who should do that work? You are thinking of breaking the 8 and not solving the problem.
“Mr. Speaker, this is very serious and the Constitution must be respected. Mr. Speaker, I’m a Deputy Whip, my boss is here, the flag bearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia must release the MPs to come to Parliament and work. The running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh must release the MPs to come and work. Either than that, we’ll invoke Articles 102 and 104 and raise quorum. The constitution must be respected,” he indicated.
He continued that “you cannot be breaking the Constitution and seeking for renewal of mandate. We must be serious in this House, and Mr. Speaker, if that is not done, when we invoke the constitution and called by 15 days we all came so when the time comes and we invoke you, you must heed to our calling.”
According to the lawmaker, the caucus’s reason for making that call is “because we will not come and sit here, doing government business, you are roaming in our constituencies campaigning. Mr. Speaker, we may not be victims for that and we mean serious business. If next week, all the 138 are not here, Mr. Speaker, we will also stand in for our members to also go and be campaigning.”
Source:onuaonline.com