KEY POINTS
- Bawumia says NDC’s majority lasted only 24 hours.
- The Supreme Court paused a ruling affecting four MPs.
- Bawumia believes the NPP will win both 2024 elections.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) had the shortest time as the majority in Ghana’s parliamentary history, according to Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to delay Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare the seats of four members of Parliament empty for becoming independent ahead of the Dec. 7 elections, he made the statement during his campaign in Nkawkaw.
Bawumia mocks NDC’s short-lived majority in Parliament
Bawumia cited this as an illustration of what he views as the NDC’s shady tactics to seize political power.
“They [NDC MPs] claimed to be the majority two days ago. Regardless, they constituted the majority for a mere twenty-four hours. He remarked, “I know of no shortest-living majority in history.”
He went on to say that the NDC can only win a majority in the 2024 elections. “Go to the voting place, visit the constituency, win an election, and then visit Parliament if you wish to win the majority. He remarked, “You don’t sit in Parliament and create a majority for yourselves.”
The NPP presidential candidate said he was confident his party would win the parliamentary and presidential elections.
The court’s decision on Friday directed Parliament to permit the four Members to perform their official duties and fully represent their constituents.
Supreme Court halts Speaker’s decision to remove independent MPs
According to a report from MyJoyOnline, the directive will stay in force until the Supreme Court issues its final decision in the case, not for the ten days that the applicants had originally asked. NPP MPs submitted the plea to suspend the Speaker’s judgment, requesting the court’s involvement to prevent the ruling’s enforcement, which would have impacted three of their colleagues and one from the NDC.
Dr. Dominic Ayine, a former deputy attorney general, charged that the Supreme Court acted hastily in its ruling and overreached its authority.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on October 19, Ayine contended that the court’s involvement was motivated by a hurried attempt to impose its authority and had legal flaws. He pointed out that court or quasi-judicial orders are covered by the stay-of-execution procedure, which is typically initiated by an appeal.
However, in this instance, the Speaker of Parliament refused to permit a challenge, following parliamentary norms, therefore there was neither a formal appeal nor a notice of appeal.
