His remarks come in light of the ongoing debate between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding who should be recognized as the majority in Parliament.

This comes after Speaker, Alban Bagbin, had earlier declared four parliamentary seats vacant, making the NDC the Majority in the House.

However, the NPP MPs challenged the Speaker’s decision in the Supreme Court, filing an ex-parte motion to stay execution of the declaration.

But Mr. Appiah-Kubi emphasized that Mike Oquaye’s decision in 2020 to declare the Fomena seat vacant was flawed.

“The Fomena MP should have gone to court to challenge Mike Oquaye’s ruling, but he chose not to.”

The MP also pointed out that a past wrong decision should not justify a similar mistake now, highlighting that the current case cannot be equated to Oquaye’s ruling.

Additionally, Appiah-Kubi warned that any parliamentarian who defies a court ruling could face severe consequences, including a 10-year imprisonment for high treason, and would be barred from contesting any political office for an additional 10 years after serving their sentence.

“No one is above the law. The Constitution is the supreme law, and it states clearly that anyone who defies a court ruling could face high treason charges, leading to 10 years in prison, followed by another 10 years of ineligibility to contest for any political position.”

Source: Adomonline

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Mr Frimpong alleged that, these activities are happening behind the residence of the sitting MP, which has angered residents.

“In Asante Akyem, we haven’t had significant galamsey issues, but recently, illegal miners have started operating in Dwansa, which is part of our constituency and the MP’s hometown,” he said.

Mr Frimpong emphasized that, the people of Asante Akyem North will not tolerate any form of illegal mining in the constituency.

He stressed the importance of protecting the water bodies in the area, which many families rely on for their livelihoods.

“The people are angry, and I want to tell the government that we will not tolerate any galamsey operations here. We will not stand by and watch our lands be destroyed,” he stated.

Watch the video below:

Source: Adomonline

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The MP’s admission comes in the wake of calls for the government to revoke the L. I as the devastation of galamsey heightens.

“We have failed as Members of Parliament for passing LI.2462,” he said on Accra-based TV3.

The regulation affected forest reserves, including the Draw River, Neung South, Boin Tano, and Oda River.

It had provided legal grounds for granting mining licenses in various forest reserves while exempting certain protected areas, such as globally significant biodiversity zones and cultural sites.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General (AG), Godfred Yeboah Dame has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to submit L.I 2462 to Parliament for revocation.

In this regard, the House barring any unforeseen circumstances is expected to revoke it when it reconvenes on October 15.

Once the EPA submits the Instrument to Parliament, lawmakers will have the authority to repeal the law, effectively banning all mining activities in forest reserves.

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Speaking to Adom News after their campaign launch in Asante Akyem Agogo, they declared their utmost support to ensure the New Patriotic Party (NPP) retains the seat.

They called on NPP supporters in the constituency to rally behind the MP and support his agenda with overwhelming votes.

Asante Akyem North is a stronghold of the NPP, but a new independent candidate has emerged and is determined to snatch the seat from the NPP.

Despite this challenge, NPP members have declared that no political party can take over the seat.

Source: Isaac Amoako

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In an interview on News Desk on the JoyNews channel, Appiah-Kubi expressed his concerns about the minority’s frequent absences from the House when their leader is in court, describing it as a “dangerous precedent.”

The Minority’s continuous absence from the House each time the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, is in court for the ambulance trial is taking a toll on parliamentary business.

An upset Appiah-Kubi says he had to sit in his office until 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, waiting for the House to reconvene simply because most minority members failed to show up in solidarity with their leader who was in court.

“Members of Parliament are elected to represent their constituents, and consistent absenteeism undermines the democratic process,” Appiah-Kubi stated.

Appiah-Kubi added that enforcing pay cuts for absent MPs would encourage better attendance and accountability.

“We need to implement stricter measures to ensure that MPs fulfil their responsibilities. Pay cuts for absenteeism could be an effective deterrent,” he emphasised.

This proposal has sparked a debate among parliamentarians and the public, highlighting the need for reforms to enhance the efficiency and accountability of the legislative body.

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As an immediate measure, he has called for all hands on deck for a resounding victory in the December elections.

The Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, emphasized that breaking the eight-year cycle is their foremost goal in the constituency, rather than pursuing independence.

Mr. Appiah Kubi made these remarks at his Thanksgiving service after winning the NPP parliamentary primaries.

Some aspirants who also came to the thanksgiving ceremony spoke to Adom News and pledged their support to help the MP and flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to break the eight-year cycle.

According to him, the money paid to Members of Parliament (MPs) every four years is accumulated salary arrears and not ex gratia.

The former president has said he will scrap the payment of ex-gratia for members of the Executive under Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution when elected president in the December polls.

Mr Mahama emphasised it is burden on the public purse and the removal is therefore to ensure judicious use of public funds.

But the former Deputy Minister for Railway Development has said Mr Mahama lacks understanding despite his service in various political capacities.

“There is nothing like ex gratia for Mahama to contemplate cancellation. The promise to cancel shows he doesn’t even understand what he is saying. To think that he is a former MP, Vice President and President, he has been deceived,” he said.

Speaking on Adom FM Burning Issues, Mr Kubi explained lawmakers do not know the exact salary they are entitled to until their tenure ends.

“The monies we are paid are not actual salaries. We are just paid on accounts. In the third year of our service, that is when the emolument committee is set up to determine our salaries and because we are going home, we call it ex gratia but that is not it. It is our back pay for accumulated salary,” he explained.

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According to him, national leadership failed to address concerns raised by former Trade Minister after the Super Delegates Congress.

Speaking on Adom TV’s morning show, Badwam, he underscored the need for post-election resolutions.

“I’m really sad about how things have turned out. The leadership of the party should have found a way to resolve the issues and bring the family together rather than bring disunity. It’s quite unfortunate.

Every election has infractions but post-elections must be managed better. The loser always needs comfort and not the winner but we disregarded it,” he said.

Mr. Appiah Kubi said although he understands Alan’s plights, politics is never fair.

“I don’t take that as a resignation; I take that as an expression of pain and everyone who is hurt has different behaviour. You can never leave your family even if you marry. I plead with Alan to secure a legacy for his generations to benefit,” he appealed.

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At exactly 9:00 am at the Kumasi High Court three on Friday, Justice Kwamena Baiden, a Court of Appeal Judge sitting as additional High Court justice called the case.

Dutifully, the lawyers of the defendant and the defendant himself, Hon Enoch Sarfo Asiedu, Assembly member for Obuasi responded.

However, when the Judge called out for the Plaintiff, Andy Appiah Kubi, there was no response or representation of him forcing proceedings to a halt.

The Judge noted that it was puzzling that the plaintiff did not show up or cause a representation to come to court.

The Judge, therefore, awarded a cost of GHC1,000 against the plaintiff and adjourned the case to October 19th, 2023.

Addressing the media, lawyer Prince Owusu Agyemang speaking for the defendant said together with his three colleagues they were ready to argue out the case brought against their client.

He noted that it was surprising that after serving the suit on them they could not find the plaintiff in court for the hearing to properly begin.

Lawyer Agyemang, who is from the SK Boafo Chambers, said the case of his client was straightforward and they would show why he didn’t do anything untoward.

He noted on the adjourned date they will come back to court to argue the matter and hoped that the plaintiff would show up since this was his case.

Meanwhile, moments after the court proceedings, some youth numbering about 50 with some placards appeared at the court premises.

Some of them have inscriptions some of which read: “Appiah Kubi you are a dictator. Show us what you did with your common fund. 7 years in government 7 court cases but Asante Akyem North needs development’’.

Speaking to the media, Samuel Atia bemoaned the treatment their MP has subjected them to any time they call for accountability.

‘”Anytime we call on Hon Andy Appiah Kubi to account for his stewardship having been in office for almost 7 years he threatens us with a court suit and today’s case is the 7th time he has sued someone for asking him to account for what he has done with the MPs common fun,”, the spokesperson stated.

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