Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has firmly declared that members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Majority caucus will not occupy seats designated for the Minority in Parliament.
This statement follows a recent Supreme Court decision to stay the declaration by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, which marked four parliamentary seats as vacant.
During a media briefing on Monday, November 11, Afenyo-Markin asserted that the Majority would uphold parliamentary decorum by refusing to shift into Minority-designated seats, even as the Supreme Court prepares to deliver a final ruling on the matter on Tuesday, November 12.
The legal dispute arose after Speaker Bagbin declared the seats of four MPs — Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central) — vacant, citing alleged violations of constitutional mandates.
However, the Majority caucus argues that this move exceeded the Speaker’s authority, as such declarations typically require judicial oversight or the initiation of by-elections.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the Speaker must adhere to parliamentary rules and ensure that the Minority caucus returns to their designated seats to restore order in the chamber.
He pointed out that the Council of State had previously mediated, obtaining assurances from Speaker Bagbin to uphold seating arrangements, but alleged that Bagbin had not fully complied.
He added that shifting to the Minority side would not only disrupt parliamentary procedures but could symbolically misalign the Majority’s position, especially with the upcoming elections just weeks away.
The Majority Leader reiterated that the integrity of Parliament must be preserved, urging the Speaker to resolve the seating standoff and restore normalcy.
With the Supreme Court’s imminent judgment, the nation watches closely as these developments could significantly impact parliamentary operations and the political landscape.
