Former Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has advised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus not to be complacent about their current two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Speaking in an interview with Adom News, the former Deputy Energy Minister reminded the NDC MPs that their dominant status is temporary and they would eventually be held accountable for their performance in the 2028 general elections.
“The NDC MPs should not take their two-thirds majority for granted simply because they have the numbers,” he said. “They should not make decisions unilaterally but consult the knowledgeable minority for ideas that will benefit the nation.”
Reflecting on his tenure between 2017 and 2021 when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) held a strong parliamentary majority of 169 seats, Egyapa Mercer noted that the then-majority made room for inclusive governance.
“We always considered the views of senior and experienced MPs like Haruna Iddrisu and others, even if some of those discussions were not publicized,” he added.
He emphasized that parliamentary democracy thrives on mutual respect between majority and minority sides, saying, “The principle is that the majority will have its way, and the minority will have its say. It is crucial that the minority is allowed to voice their opinions.”
Meanwhile, political analyst Jonathan Asante Okyere has disagreed with suggestions that the NDC majority is sidelining the minority.
According to him, the current parliamentary leadership has not abused its numerical strength, unlike what might have happened under the Akufo-Addo administration.
“If the Akufo-Addo government had the majority in their previous administration, they would likely have exploited their numbers to sideline the minority,” he asserted.
He concluded by emphasizing that governance requires cooperation between both sides of the House.
Source: Jagri Boaz Binyinjom
ALSO READ:
- NDC’s two-thirds majority a big mistake – Collins Owusu Amankwah warns
-
NDC will use Majority for reforms, not abuse – Mahama Ayariga
