The Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, of yielding to opposition pressure to hold the government hostage by refusing to reconvene the House for urgent business ahead of the December 7 elections.
Afenyo-Markin alleged that the Speaker’s decision was influenced by a counter-petition from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.
“The flagbearer of the NDC also said the same thing. So what they are doing is holding the government hostage,” he stated.
Speaking on JoyNews, the Majority Leader further criticized Bagbin for acting arbitrarily, claiming he treated Parliament as his personal property.
“Today, the Speaker has taken Parliament as his personal property. As and when it pleases him, he opens Parliament. Even when there is an issue that he could sit with us on, he says no,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He disclosed that a memo requesting the House’s recall was declined by the Speaker in a letter dated November 26, stating that Parliament would reconvene only after the elections. Afenyo-Markin described the response as unacceptable and accused the Speaker of obstructing critical legislative processes.
Expressing skepticism about the Speaker’s intentions, Afenyo-Markin argued that Bagbin’s actions were politically motivated.
“Are we even sure that he would open Parliament? That’s the question. But the answer lies in the fact that we [NPP] are winning massively. And once we win massively and we come, he would have no choice,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin also criticized the NDC caucus for escalating the parliamentary stalemate, which he claimed was created by their refusal to accept court rulings on disputed parliamentary seats.
“Look at the recent case. They themselves created this impasse. We [NPP], as law-abiding citizens, took the matter to court. The court ruled in our favour. They contested the case and lost,” he said.
North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, however, described the situation as “needless and regrettable,” accusing the NPP caucus of disrespecting the Speaker’s earlier rulings on the four disputed seats.
“There are so many important issues that have not been addressed, that have not received parliamentary attention because of this needless impasse,” Ablakwa said.
He added, “If Afenyo-Markin and his side had just respected the authority of the Speaker, this situation wouldn’t be where it is today.”