The Minority in Parliament has announced plans to boycott parliamentary sittings in support of their Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Dr Ato Forson, a former Deputy Finance Minister, is on trial for causing the state a €2.3 million loss. He faces charges related to the purchase of 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016.
He is facing five counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment to wilfully causing financial loss to the state, contravention of the Public Procurement Act, and intentionally misapplying public property.
In a statement, the Minority Caucus expressed unwavering support for their leader and emphasized their unity by abstaining from parliamentary sittings on days scheduled for the ongoing ambulance trial.
They highlighted a pattern of obstruction from the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, who has denied requests allowing Dr Ato Forson to participate in critical parliamentary activities.
“The request was for the court’s permission to allow him to participate in significant parliamentary activities on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, coinciding with the resumption of the House’s third meeting of the fourth session.
“Last week, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe again rejected a similar request from the Parliament of Ghana to enable the Minority Leader to take part in a meeting of the Parliamentary Service Board, which was due to take critical decisions ahead of the resumption of Parliament, among others.
“Today, as Parliament commences its third meeting of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament, the Minority Leader is expected to deliver a resumption address, join parliamentary leadership to engage the press and undertake other important activities, as part of his legislative mandate.
“These are part of very important parliamentary duties exclusively reserved for the leader of a Parliamentary Caucus at the commencement of a parliamentary meeting,” the statement said.
They criticized the court’s decisions, which they believe hinder Dr. Ato Forson from fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities.
The Minority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, also stated that the NDC Minority Caucus reserves the right to utilize all available parliamentary tools in its legislative approach.