As Parliament reconvened on Thursday morning at the Accra International Conference Centre, only Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were present in the chamber by 8:30 a.m., seating themselves on the majority side typically occupied by the party with the most seats.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs had yet to arrive, creating a stark imbalance in the chamber. NDC members expressed frustration over the absence of their NPP counterparts, interpreting it as a lack of dedication from the governing party to parliamentary matters.
Joseph Bukari, the MP for Saboba, voiced his disappointment, calling the absence of NPP MPs “disrespectful” and a sign of disregard for legislative duties. He commented, “The governing side isn’t serious. We’re here to conduct parliamentary business, and it was they who requested the Speaker to recall us, yet they aren’t here.”
He continued, “We are supposed to be present before 10 a.m., with the Speaker arriving at 10. If they’re absent, it suggests they’re not committed to government business, wasting both our time and that of Ghanaians. They’re keeping us in Parliament with needless requests while we have work waiting in our constituencies.”
Speaker Alban Bagbin called this parliamentary session to address several unresolved issues, including budget allocations and legislative reforms that had been delayed due to recent disagreements in Parliament.
This early confrontation, marked by NDC members sitting in seats typically occupied by the NPP caucus, highlighted the ongoing power struggle between the two sides. While the NDC MPs have stressed that their attendance reflects a commitment to national issues, the NPP’s delay has only heightened existing tensions in the House.
MyABCLive.com, sourced from Citinewsroom.com
