Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has thrown shade at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the Supreme Court’s decision to put a hold on the Speaker of Parliament’s ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
Bawumia sarcastically remarked, “Just yesterday they had the 24-hour majority, the shortest-lived majority that I know of in his- tory.”
He emphasized that if the NDC wants to form the majority in Parliament, they should win the election, stressing that manufacturing a majority isn’t an option.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday, October 18, directed Parliament to recognize and allow the four MPs to continue serving as lawmakers until the case is determined.
This comes after the Speaker declared the seats vacant on Thursday, October 17. The affected lawmakers are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah Amoako (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
Bawumia’s comments were made during his campaign on Saturday, October 19, where he also stated,
“If you want the majority, come to the polling stations, the constituency, win an election and then go to parliament.”
This taunt is likely to add fuel to the already heated political climate in Ghana, especially with the general elections scheduled for December 7, 2024.
The NDC had petitioned the Speaker to declare the seats vacant, citing Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution, which requires lawmakers to vacate their seats if they leave the party they were elected under or attempt to remain in Parliament as independent candidates.
However, the Majority Leader Afenyo-Markin filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the petition, leading to the current stay on the Speaker’s ruling.