Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) national chairman, has ordered the party’s lawmakers to abstain from any emergency recall of parliament, claiming that such sessions are being held for fraudulent purposes.
Speaking to supporters in the Western Region on Saturday, November 16, Asiedu Nketiah claimed that the majority caucus had no justification for calling Parliament back other than to further dubious goals, given the approaching general elections in 2024.
He said, “No NDC MP should set foot in Parliament. If they wish, they can go and burn the sea. There is no work in Parliament that can be considered an emergency. There’s nothing urgent. Parliament would only be recalled so they can continue with the rampant corruption they have carried out over the past eight years.”
Asiedu Nketiah claimed that the majority side still aimed to push their corrupt agenda even with just three weeks left before the general elections.
He emphasised that NDC MPs would not engage in any such activities, asserting, “We won’t go near them today or tomorrow. Judges may say what they want, but Parliament has its own rules, and we will adhere to those.”
His remarks come after Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s announcement that four parliamentary seats were empty was overturned by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, November 12. This decision supported a lawsuit filed by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the majority leader.
The five justices who supported the Majority Leader came to the conclusion in a thorough decision on Thursday, November 14, that a parliamentary seat could only be deemed empty if a member of Parliament changed political parties while still serving in that capacity.
A difference in opinion regarding the Court’s jurisdiction in such instances was highlighted by the two justices who dissented, arguing that the Court lacked the authority to rule on the issue.
