The Majority group in Parliament has slammed the Speaker, Mr. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin for his indefinite adjournment of the House when there were some matters of national importance to be considered.
According to the group, the Speaker’s action was ‘arbitrary and capricious sabotage of government’s business,’ which was also detrimental to the nation’s governance and democratic processes.
It accused the Speaker of impeding critical governmental functions, including the approval of tax waivers, laying of papers, consideration of bills and IDA facility as well as approval of ministerial nominees, thereby undermining the economy and the government’s ability to function.
“The consequences are clear that the economy will suffer and Government business will be undermined because of the pleasure of one man,” the Majority caucus led by Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin decried in a statement issued Wednesday night.
It further noted that Speaker’s arbitrary move was based on a misunderstanding of the legal actions filed in the Supreme Court, which it argued, are unrelated to the President’s nominees.
“It beggars belief that our distinguished Speaker could not, or did not want to, appreciate what has been filed in the Supreme Court and which is very unconnected with the President’s Ministerial Nominees who have been vetted and are waiting for the House to approve their nominations.
“The upshot is that Mr Speaker has torpedoed the Government’s work by depriving the President and Ghana of the able men and women who will assist him in running the Government machinery. It is our humble belief that it is the Speaker who is undermining our democracy and not Mr President,” the majority caucus bemoaned in a statement issued Wednesday night.
The Majority caucus added that, “The gargantuan contradiction of Mr Speaker is that, while he accuses Mr President of respecting mere injunction applications, he will respect a mere injunction application whether or not it touches on Parliament’s work.
Adjournment
Speaker Bagbin adjourned Parliament sine die on Wednesday in apparent response to the refusal of President Nana Akufo-Addo to receive the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also referred to as anti-LGBTQ+ Bill for his assent after citing two interlocutory injunctions on the legislation at the Supreme Court.
He indicated that Parliament was also unable to continue the process of vetting and approval of nominees for ministerial appointments due to a similar interlocutory injunction served on Parliament.
However, the Majority caucus defended President Akufo-Addo’s action.
According to Majority, the President simply adhered to legal proceedings by not receiving the contentious Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024.
It argued that President Akufo-Addo’s actions, influenced by the Supreme Court injunctions, were in line with respecting the rule of law and did not in any way undermine the authority of the judiciary.
“The President was being law-abiding because of the injunctive processes pending before the Supreme Court,” the Majority caucus reiterated.
Conspiracy
The Majority caucus also accused the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) of conspiring with the Speaker to sabotage the government.
The group condemned the NDC for lacking credible solutions to Ghana’s economic challenges and thereby attempting to mislead Ghanaians for political gain.
“The NDC is bereft of ideas. They do not have any credible alternative solutions to the problems of dimensions facing Ghana’s economy. The poverty of the NDC’s political posture is clear and obvious, and Ghanaians will not return them to power come December 2024,” the Majority caucus declared.
