The Majority in Parliament has rejected the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs’ demand for an apology to the Speaker of Parliament.
The NDC MPs had accused the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, of attacking Speaker Alban Bagbin and using unsavoury and unparliamentary language against him.
In a statement, the NDC caucus demanded “an immediate and unqualified apology from Afenyo-Markin for the unwarranted attacks which are deliberately calculated to lower the office of the Speaker of Parliament in the eyes of right-thinking Ghanaians”.
They also expressed disappointment with the Majority side for not appearing in the House on Thursday, November 7, 2024.
However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, has insisted that the NPP MPs did no wrong and therefore would not apologize.
While speaking to reporters during a speech and prize giving day event at St Monica’s Senior High School in Mampong, she urged the Speaker to publicly clarify his stance on the parliamentary deadlock.
“I think the Speaker has the right as the head of the legislative arm to come into this issue and make a declaration. I don’t understand why he is hiding from that fact. He needs to.
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“Why do they want an apology when they know the parliamentary procedure? You know that before we sit we always go and decide what to do,” she said.
The parliamentary impasse began after the Supreme Court overturned Mr Bagbin’s earlier decision that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
The ruling led to a dispute over the balance of power in the House.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs, backing Mr Bagbin’s ruling, now claim the majority in Parliament, while members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) challenge this stance.
Despite the Supreme Court’s intervention, NDC MPs have asserted their newfound majority by occupying seats traditionally held by the NPP.
In response, NPP MPs, led by their leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, have boycotted the chamber, fearing potential physical confrontations, which has effectively brought parliamentary proceedings to a halt.