Minister of Energy and MP for Manhyia South, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has allegedly demonstrated gross insubordination towards the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Majority leader in Parliament, Hon. Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, by rejecting calls for him to return to Ghana and cast a critical vote for the attainment of majority decision that would have led to the easy approval of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nominee for the position of Chief Justice – Gertrude Torkornu.
Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh also known in political circles as Napo, is a member of the 25-member Appointments Committee of Parliament.
It would be recalled that during the recent public sitting of the Committee to vet the Chief Justice nominee, Napo was not present; and that was the time he was allegedly in Monaco for holidays and a birthday bash, having already celebrated his birthday in Accra.
Sources within the precincts of Parliament have revealed that the Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Napo, deliberately snubbed calls from the leader of the Majority Caucus and other members of the Appointments Committee, who begged him to come back to Ghana to help the majority to secure the necessary numbers needed to approve the Chief Justice nominee.
“After our numerous calls, he finally responded by arrogantly telling us that, we should leave him alone to enjoy his holiday,” stated a deep throat source within Parliament.
The calls to the Minister became critical as the minority members on the Appointments Committee requested for the details of the judgment on the former Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, to be made available by June 7 before their side could pass a vote on the Chief Justice nominee.
The Minority Caucus abstained from passing a vote on the nominee when the Appointments Committee of Parliament met after the vetting of the Chief Justice.
The minority group is demanding to see the full judgement of the case in question and particularly, what the Chief Justice nominee said in respect of the said judgment before any decision is taken by their side.
This explains why there was no consensus among the Committee members over the issue.
Subsequently, the Chairman of the Committee took a decision to approve the nominee by a majority decision but this requires the presence of all members of the committee, including Napo, whose absence appears to have handicapped the Committee.
Sources clarified that, at the time, the NPP in Parliament needed him most, he was having a time of his life outside the country at the expense of the political Party that has made him a Minister and Member of parliament.
It is clear that Napo’s conduct does not sit well with the leadership of the NPP majority group in Parliament and their members on the Appointments Committee.
Stay tuned as we await all the reactions and drama that will ensue over this issue as Parliament resumes sitting on Tuesday, June 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, Hon Napo is still said to be in his 55th Birthday celebration mood at far away Monaco, sources within the majority NPP in Parliament, have said.
We promise to keep our readers updated.
Stay tuned.