Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has emphasised that the Minority Caucus will continue to register strong resistance until Parliament withdraws the letter sent to the Electoral Commission (EC) declaring the Kpandai seat vacant.
Speaking in an interview on the Channel One Newsroom, Assafuah questioned what he described as an unexpected shift in position by the Speaker of Parliament.
According to him, the decision directing the Clerk to notify the EC contradicts the Speaker’s earlier ruling on the matter, raising concerns about consistency and constitutional adherence.
“There is going to be a consistent resistance at least for the week, and we are going to do so within the confines of the law. We believe that we are practicing constitutional supremacy. We believe that Ghana is a democratic state.
“It beats our imagination to have the Speaker of Parliament direct the Clerk of Parliament to write to the EC, which is at variance with the Speaker’s old ruling on the floor. We are sending a signal that for us on the Minority side, we are going to ensure a sustained resistance at least for one week or two weeks to drum home our concerns than that we are not going to cooperate for government results to go on,” he stated.
Assafuah’s comments follow heightened tensions in Parliament on Tuesday, December 9, when Minority MPs disrupted proceedings in protest of the Kpandai vacancy declaration.
Earlier in the sitting, the Minority had insisted the House adjourn after hours of debate on the issue. Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh maintained that no government business would continue until the matter was resolved.
However, the Speaker ruled, after a voice vote, that proceedings should continue. The Minority responded with persistent chants, attempting to obstruct business.
Dressed in black, Minority MPs later moved toward the front of the chamber, prompting a counter-reaction from some Majority MPs, resulting in both sides confronting each other midway.
Despite the chaos, the Speaker and Majority side continued with the order of business amid loud chants and shouts. Marshals struggled to restore calm as tensions escalated.
Nonetheless, the Speaker proceeded with government business even as disorder persisted in the chamber.
