Speaking during a caucus meeting on the 7th floor of Job 600 in Parliament on Thursday, November 13, 2025, Afenyo-Markin said the greatest threat facing the caucus is not the Majority, but their own disunity.

“We are not here by accident. We are here by choice,” he said, reminding MPs of their obligation to represent the people of Ghana and serve as the voice of the voiceless. “But colleagues, I must speak plainly. That duty is suffering. Our people are suffering. And we are allowing our internal disagreements to become their burden.”

He argued that while the Majority remains focused on sidelining the Minority, NPP MPs are unknowingly making the work easier for the government by remaining divided and unfocused.

“The Majority sits across from us with one agenda: to suppress our views, to silence our expression, to render us irrelevant. And what are we doing? We are doing their work for them. We bicker. We backbite. We whisper in corridors instead of roaring in this chamber,” he lamented.

Calling for an end to the infighting, Afenyo-Markin urged members to prioritise unity above political ambition, stressing that disagreements are normal but must never compromise their shared responsibility.

“Yes, we will disagree on how to achieve our goals. Yes, NPP MPs will support different candidates for 2028. Yes, we will have competing visions. But we must never allow our internal disagreements to make the people of Ghana the collateral damage of our divisions.”

The Minority Leader also accused the ruling government of economic mismanagement, abuse of state institutions, and increasing public frustration, insisting that a united Minority is essential to confronting these challenges.

“Right now, as we sit divided, the government is running riot. They are mismanaging our economy. They are weaponising state institutions. They are persecuting our compatriots. But belief without action is betrayal,” he added.

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On Thursday morning, about 67 MPs called on Dr. Bawumia at his office in Accra to formally declare their backing.

Speaking to the media after the visit, Dr. Bawumia described the gesture as a “strong show of support” from key stakeholders within the party, particularly at the grassroots level.

“It was a visit from our Members of Parliament and I think that it was a very happy visit—a courtesy call and a declaration of support for me. I’m so happy. The group from Parliament that has declared support for me now amounts to over 60 Members of Parliament. And you know we have 88 MPs, so that tells you that a very significant number have declared their support,” Dr. Bawumia said.

“This is a strong show of support and I thank them, and I thank God for this. Off we go.”

He emphasized the importance of the MPs’ endorsement, pointing out their influence across constituencies.

“I believe that this is going to be very important because Members of Parliament, as you know, control the constituencies to a large extent—and I’m very happy for what they’ve done today.”

While expressing his appreciation, Dr. Bawumia also urged the MPs to roll up their sleeves and get to work to help both the NPP and the nation.

“Off we go. There is a lot of hard work to be done to help the party and to help the country,” he added.

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According to him, the figure cannot be accurate, citing a viral video from the meeting as evidence.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, the former spokesperson for the Education Ministry cautioned the lawmakers to tread carefully, questioning Dr. Bawumia’s performance in the 2024 elections—even as an “establishment” candidate.

He noted that the party’s grassroots base is upset, and public declarations by MPs may further aggravate the situation.

“What is the purpose and intent of all these things? This was the same thing we did during the 2024 election—busing people around, rejecting claims of apathy due to underdevelopment.

“We dismissed everything, claiming the party and Bawumia had the support. How did that end? We had government appointees, MPs, all executives aligned to support Dr. Bawumia, but we lost by a margin of 1.7 million votes,” he stated.

So far, four prominent party figures have declared their intention to contest the NPP flagbearer slot, although nominations are yet to be officially opened.

They include Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, Minister for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong, and Minister for Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.

On Thursday, June 19, 2025, over 60 out of the 88 NPP MPs reportedly visited Dr. Bawumia’s office to declare their support for his bid.

However, Mr. Kwarteng questioned the impact of the gesture, claiming that Kennedy Agyapong’s camp also has the backing of more than 50 MPs.

“I don’t have the permission of the over 50 MPs to put their names out there, but at the right time, we will. I was hoping they [Bawumia’s team] could also name all their 60 members—then we would have seen the number of disclaimers that would have come out by tomorrow,” he added.

He stressed that the power to choose the party’s next flagbearer lies with the grassroots, not party elites.

“For us, we believe that sovereignty resides with the people. It cannot be said that the over 200,000 delegates or polling station executives can have their conscience sacrificed at the altar of a few people,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the NPP has scheduled January 31, 2026, for its presidential primaries to elect a candidate for the 2028 general elections.

The decision was endorsed by the party’s National Council at a crucial meeting held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in accordance with Article 13(1)(1) of the NPP Constitution.

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Some of the burnt vehicles

The MPs pledged to collaborate with stakeholders to develop policies that promote sustainable urban development, economic growth, and improved living conditions for the people of Kumasi.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Asenso-Boakye stressed the importance of proactive measures to safeguard lives and properties.

“The recent fires at the Suame Magazine are a wake-up call for all of us. As representatives of the people, we are committed to working with the relevant authorities to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur. Fire safety education and strict enforcement of regulations must be prioritized to protect businesses and livelihoods,” he stated.

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The General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua said this during a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Kodua insisted that Speaker Alban Bagbin‘s order was illegal, unconstitutional and therefore will have no effect on their members.

“This is an illegality we will not even waste time to give prudence to. Being the Speaker doesn’t mean you make the laws if the standing orders or any statute gives the Speaker the power to suspend, it would have been stated.

“If anything happens, it has to be referred to the Privileges Committee. So with this, what precedents are you setting? We won’t accept this suspension and have directed our MPs to come to Parliament if the Speaker stops them, we will advice ourselves,” he said.

Three NPP MPs Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Minority Chief Whip), Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (Gushegu MP), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe MP) are on two-weeks suspension following the chaotic incident at the Appointments Committee vetting.

Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP has also been suspended over the incident.

The turmoil erupted during the vetting of ministerial nominees Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as tensions flared between the Minority and Majority caucuses.

Following the widely condemned incident, Speaker Alban Bagbin on Friday suspended four MPs and instituted a bipartisan committee to probe and submit its report within 10 days.

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Speaking to the press on Monday, February 3, Afenyo-Markin stated, “We’ve been cooperative, but they’re bullies. They intimidate us, and if we don’t stand strong, they’ll continue to bully us, and we won’t allow that.”

He cited a recent incident where the Appointments Committee initially agreed to vet three nominees, but the NDC pushed for additional nominees, bringing the total to five.

Afenyo-Markin further alleged that the NDC has deployed “foot soldiers” to intimidate NPP MPs, including cases of physical assault.

“We’ve brought this to the attention of Parliament Police, and we’re taking steps to beef up our security,” he announced. “The attacks are becoming too frequent, and we don’t feel safe.”

He also defended the actions of NPP MPs during their protest on Thursday night, stressing that they remained law-abiding and did not engage in any destruction of public property. He urged critics to review footage of the incident.

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The MPs were seen singing in the chamber as a form of protest, expressing their concerns over post-election violence and other disturbances in various regions.

JoyNews’ Parliamentary Correspondent Kwaku Asante captured the MPs singing one of the country’s patriotic songs, “Yen Ara Asaase Ni” [This is Our Land], on the floor, urging the government to address what they referred to as widespread violence across the nation.

The protest comes after a recent incident in Obuasi, Ashanti Region, where clashes between military personnel and local youth resulted in the death of nine civilians.

The violence erupted when the military attempted to prevent the youth from entering one of the mining concessions of AngloGold Ashanti, one of the country’s largest gold mining companies.

In addition to the Obuasi incident, there have been reports of state institutions being targeted following the December 2024 elections.

The NPP MPs have condemned these acts as undemocratic and are calling on the President to take immediate action to put an end to the violence and ensure peace across the country.

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The description sparked an immediate protest from the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who said it was unbefitting of parliamentary discourse.

The Effutu MP contended that the term undermined the dignity of the NPP caucus.

In expressing their disagreement, the Minority rose amidst chants against the Speaker’s choice of words.

‘The Minority Caucus hereby protests the description given to us by the Speaker,’ he said.

The Speaker acknowledged the concerns of the Minority Leader but was quick to point out that the latter had previously used the term in that context.

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Deputy Majority Leader Patricia Appiagyei, addressing a press conference, condemned what she described as coordinated attacks by alleged NDC thugs on NPP appointees and supporters following the 2024 general election.

She accused Kofi Totobi Quakyi and Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo Lartey of orchestrating the violence and warned of further disruptions planned for after President-Elect John Dramani Mahama’s swearing-in ceremony.

Despite NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia conceding defeat just 14 hours after the polls closed, Appiagyei noted, “The violence has persisted, and it is imperative that the President-Elect and security agencies act swiftly to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh added that if the alleged attacks continue, the NPP would pursue all available legal means to protect its members.

The MPs urged the President-Elect to ensure calm and called on security agencies to address the situation promptly to maintain peace during the transition period.

This follows another indefinite adjournment of the House.

The Speaker attributed his decision to adjourn the House indefinitely to a lack of business for the House to transact and the absence of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in the Chamber.

The meeting was a response to a request for a recall by the NPP Caucus, the first request was dated 22nd of October, and the second one dated 24th of October 2024, both pursuant to Article 1123 of the Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps on the stairs of the main entrance to the Chamber of Parliament, after the adjournment, said: “We look forward to engaging Minister Speaker in the next few hours or days, we pray that he does the needful.

“We will continue to rely on the law to get the right things done,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated.

He also called for an end to the partisan politics in the Chamber, which was affecting government Business; saying “Parliament is a Chamber for decent people, Parliament is a Chamber for tolerant democrats, Parliament is a Chamber for people who want nation building without taking advantage of situations.”

Touching on the adjournment, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the items captured in their first and second memoranda to the Speaker for the House to be recalled from recess was the business agenda of the day.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, who presented to the press Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West, who was elected on the ticket of the NPP, but had filed with the EC to contest the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate, as still being a Member of the NPP, questioned why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus moved to the right hand side of the Speaker, knowing that it was the place of the NPP Caucus.

He cautioned that if care were not taken, the budget for the first three months of 2025, could be affected if the House did not sit to approve government business.

He also noted that what the NDC Caucus was doing was to prevent the approval of some major Bills like the Free Senior School Bill, adding that should they succeed in doing so, parents would suffer.

The disagreement between the NPP Caucus and the NDC Caucus over which side of the House constitutes the Majority in Parliament follows Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin’s declaration of four Parliamentary seats vacant for breach of Article 97(1)(g) and (h).

The four Parliamentary seats declared vacant by the Speaker on Thursday, October 17, 2024, are Amenfi Central, Fomena, Agona West and Suhum Constituencies, for breaches of Article 9(1)(g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution by the Members of Parliament (MPs).

Article 97(1) states: “A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament — (g) if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member; or (h) if he was elected a member of Parliament as an independent candidate and joins a political party.”

The affected Members of Parliament (MPs) are Mr. Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, MP for Amenfi Central, who was elected on the ticket of the NDC, but had filed with the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate.

Also, Andrews Amoako Asiamah, Independent MP Fomena and currently serving as the Second Deputy Speaker, had filed to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Again, Kwadjo Asante, Suhum MP, who was elected on the ticket of the NPP, but had filed with the EC to contest the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate and Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Agona West MP, who was elected on the ticket of the NPP, but has filed with the EC to contest the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate.

The Speaker’s ruling which, he made was a formal response to the House about a matter of significant parliamentary and constitutional importance, which was brought to the attention of the House on Tuesday, October 15, by Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the then Minority Leader and NDC MP for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam, pursuant to Order 93 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.

This development has left the NPP Caucus with 135 MPs and the NDC Caucus with 136 MPs.

However, the Supreme Court on Friday, October 18, set aside the Speaker’s ruling and directed him to allow the four affected MPs to participate in the business of the House.

The nation’s top court has set November 11, to give its ruling on the matter.

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According to him, Ghanaians should hold NPP MPs accountable for their actions, as he claims they have caused financial loss to the state.

Addressing the media, the Ajumako Enyan Essiam MP stated that parliamentary recalls cost the country money, and lawmakers must be held accountable for their absence.

On Thursday, Speaker Alban Bagbin adjourned the House indefinitely due to the absence of NPP MPs, which prevented Parliament from reaching the required quorum for decision-making.

The NPP had petitioned the Speaker for a recall on October 23, following an indefinite adjournment on October 22, citing urgent national matters requiring immediate attention. However, they failed to attend the session and the business committee meeting.

To Dr. Forson, this action by the NPP is an abuse of the Constitution and parliamentary standing orders.

“The NPP has done this a couple of times, showing nothing but disrespect. We urge the people of Ghana to take note of this behavior and hold them accountable,” he said.

He encouraged citizens to view this incident as a sign of poor leadership and to consider it when voting in the next election.

“The NPP Minority Caucus has consistently disrespected the Ghanaian people and caused financial loss to the state. This recall has cost the state, and they are misusing it. Ghanaians should vote them out for this conduct,” he added.

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According to him, the NPP MPs must be able to consensus building due to the close numbers in Parliament.

Mr Akandoh made these remarks on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday, following the tension in parliament over Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four seats vacant.

“Irrespective of the side they had sat at the Minority side and all MPs were present, would the Speaker have said he doesn’t have the numbers to take decisions? They didn’t think through their actions.

“In any case, if you have such a parliament with close numbers, you always build consensus; you don’t flex your muscles,” he said.

The NPP caucus abandoned the chamber n Tuesday, October 22, causing the Speaker to indefinitely suspend the House due to the insufficient numbers to take decisions on government businesses.

The caucus has since petitioned the speaker, requesting a recall for urgent government businesses to continue.

However, Mr Akandoh has questioned the essence of the NPP MPs walkout when they knew there were issues that required urgent consideration.

“If they had stayed in the chamber, would the speaker has said we don’t have the numbers to make decisions? This is a hung parliament and even if you are minority and government business is going on smoothly, is that not what you want? What will the name do?

“In any case it doesn’t mean you will win every motion because you are majority. It is just about the numbers for voting. You have ministers who are always travelling around on national assignments so this pride is unnecessary. The fact that you are majority doesn’t mean you are the leader of government business,” he added.

Mr Akandoh further asserted that, all the controversies could have been avoided if Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin hadn’t rushed to the Supreme Court.

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This ruling, he hopes, will resolve the ongoing tensions and restore normalcy in Parliament.

“The court process will start from Friday, and if you look at the order from the Supreme Court, it ordered the Speaker and the Parliament as an institution to respond to the order.

“We believe that before the 7 days will elapse, the court will do justice to whatever the NDC is claiming. We cannot force the court, but we’re praying that they will do deal with the matter as soon as practicable,” he stated.

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This was after National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs occupied the Majority side of the House which is originally for the NPP MPs.

In their bid not to be part of or cause any chaotic scenes, the NPP caucus exited the chamber led by Efuttu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said they were leaving to stay in their offices, awaiting directives from the Speaker, Alban Bagbin who was yet to arrive.

“Mr. Speaker has been part of our democracy since 1992. He is a senior lawyer, he has practiced in our courts, and I believe that even if Mr. Speaker disagrees with the Supreme Court, he knows what to do. Suffice it to say, at the risk of being repetitive, that we were not disrespectful of the chair when Mr. Speaker made his pronouncement, and the Majority Caucus disagreed with him. We didn’t cause commotion here.

“We left quietly and told Mr. Speaker that the right place to express those grievances would be in court. So, we expect our brothers and sisters on the NDC minority side to do the needful. But it will all be for Mr. Speaker to make a final determination. The nation is looking up to Mr. Speaker; with all his years in politics, this is a crucial moment for him to add weight to what we have done to preserve the peace,” he told journalists.

Afenyo-Markin noted that, they chose peace rather than chaos and therefore decided not to confront their opponents.

“NPP is for peace, NPP is for peace, NPP is for the peace of Ghana. We will not allow anyone to disturb the peace of this country. It is well known that we remain the Majority Caucus of this Parliament. You, the media, must add your voice to the advocacy to compel our colleagues to respect the rule of law.”

As they exited, jubilant NDC MPs booed them, chanting, “Away, away, away.”

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Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin announced this in an interview on Asempa FM Ekosii Sen programme Thursday.

The action is in protest of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s approval and ruling of a motion that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.

This bold move by the Speaker has sparked tension, with the Majority Caucus demonstrating their discontent.

The Effutu MP has said the side will absent itself from the Chamber and proceedings until further notice, pending the outcome of a case before the Supreme Court.

“We told the Speaker on Tuesday that the matter is before the Supreme Court which means we await interpretation. So with what has happened, we have to wait on the court to determine the matter and we are bound by it.

“We prefer to be on the side of the law than confusion,” he said.

Former Minority Leader and Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu invoked Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution, challenging the status of some colleagues who had crossed carpets ahead of the December 7 election.

Three of the affected seats belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while one is for the National Democratic Congress(NDC).

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The walkout was after Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin was unable to submit to challenge the Speaker’s ruling.

Three of the affected seats belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) while one is for the National Democratic Congress(NDC).

The seats declared vacant are the Agona West(Cynthia Morrison), Kwadwo Asante of Suhum, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena and Peter Kwaky Ackah Amenfi Central seat.

Mr Amoako, who is an independent MP who has filed a nomination to contest the 2024 parliamentary election on the ticket of the NPP.

The remaining three have also filed to contest independent parliamentary candidates on December 7.

The ruling followed a motion filed by former Minority Leader and Tamale South Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, invoking Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution.

On the back of this development, the NDC MPs will now form the majority with 136 seats while the NPP will be the minority with 135 seats.

Speaking at a rally in Yeji, Pru East District, Mr. Mahama emphasized that the DRIP initiative, which aims to enhance road conditions across all 275 constituencies, is funded by taxpayers and should not be used for political advertising.

He reminded the public that the equipment distributed nationwide belongs to all Ghanaians, not just the NPP.

Mr. Mahama also urged President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia to recognize their responsibility to serve the entire nation, rather than focusing solely on their party’s interests.

He demanded the immediate removal of the posters and warned that the NDC would take further action if the situation is not addressed.

“It’s the government’s money, funded by the taxes we all pay—whether you’re NPP, CPP, Christian, or Muslim—everyone contributes. They’ve used those taxes to import earth-moving equipment for road construction, and each district has been allocated some. But now, we’re seeing posters of NPP parliamentary candidates on the DRIP equipment.

“I want to remind Akufo-Addo and Bawumia that they serve the entire country, not just the NPP. The equipment doesn’t belong to the party; it belongs to all Ghanaians. No one has the right to place their posters on the DRIP equipment. They must order the immediate removal of these posters, or we’ll be forced to take action ourselves,” he stated.

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Speaking passionately on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, June 13, Mohammed lamented the lack of seriousness displayed by his colleagues on the Majority side.

He called upon the leadership of the Majority to address what he described as the “unseriousness” of their members and urged them to prioritise their parliamentary responsibilities.

Specifically targeting Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Murtala Mohammed criticised him for failing to ensure adequate attendance of his caucus members to parliament.

He argued that, the Majority Leader must ensure that members are present to conduct the business of parliament effectively on behalf of their constituents.

The MP for Tamale Central highlighted the importance of parliamentary attendance in deliberating and passing crucial legislation that affects the lives of Ghanaian citizens.

He emphasised that absenteeism undermines the functioning of Parliament and diminishes its ability to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

“My point has to do with the unseriousness of the team that he [Alexander Afenyo-Markin] leads. There are only seven. [Wednesday, June 12], they were just five. Now, you think that it is important for us to do business without members of the Majority?

“I came to Parliament by eight o’clock and registered. Your members are still not here. They are following your presidential candidate dancing Azonto and saying, give me the steer. If you want us to take you seriously, then have control over the people that you lead,” he said.

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Among other things Vice President Bawumia lectured on, he touched on the need to abolish the controversial e-levy and other taxes imposed by the government he is part of.

This, Sam George has described as ironical, as he addresses the NPP MPs who applauded Bawumia and endorsed the speech.

He referenced the chaos that broke out in parliament over the debate on the e-levy, and how the NPP MPs fought with their sweat and blood to have it passed, only to support another candidate with plans of abolishing it.

“How do you all feel after fighting the NDC MPs and walking out and insulting us over the e-Levy,” he quizzed.

Sam George poked that those NPP MPs are whom Bawumia labeled in his address as “short-sighted and not critical in your thinking and analysis”.

He further questioned whether the NPP MPs were paying attention during Bawumia’s address or if they were simply unaware of the criticism directed at them.

He reiterated his curiosity about their feelings in light of the apparent contradiction between their previous actions and the Vice President’s assertions.

Despite the conclusion of the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) inquiry, OccupyGhana remains determined and is contemplating utilizing constitutional provisions to compel the OSP to disclose the businessman’s name.

The group has sought legal counsel to determine whether there is a constitutional right to access information regarding the businessman, whose identity was inexplicably redacted from the OSP’s report.

A statement issued by OccupyGhana indicated that if legal advice confirms their entitlement to this information, they will initiate proceedings under the Right to Information Act to compel the OSP to reveal the businessman’s name.

The OSP had previously announced the conclusion of its investigation, citing a lack of cooperation as the reason for its inability to proceed.

The inquiry was initiated based on a petition filed by OccupyGhana on November 3, 2022, following allegations made by Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Mr. Appiah-Kubi.

According to the six-page report, Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s non-cooperation impeded the investigative process, resulting in insufficient evidence to support criminal proceedings against the identified suspect.

The Majority Leader, during the investigation, denied having direct knowledge of the matter.

In response to the OSP’s findings, OccupyGhana expressed disappointment with the MPs, citing previous bribery allegations in parliament in 2014 and 2017 that yielded no tangible results.

The group criticized the behavior of the MPs, emphasizing the need for them to set a positive example for the public and future generations.

Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, OccupyGhana questioned the suitability of these leaders, suggesting that their actions render them unfit for their roles.

The group expressed a desire for ethical conduct and suggested that resignation would have been an honorable course of action in light of the allegations.

Read the full statement below:

OccupyGhana has read with much disappointment, the report of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (‘OSP’) on the above, dated 28 December 2023.

The OSP’s investigation was triggered by our 3 November 2022 petition to that office to investigate the alleged, attempted bribery of the majority caucus of Parliament by an unnamed businessman.

This was after both Andy Appiah-Kubi, MP and Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, MP, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, had taken turns to make these allegations.

That is why we find shocking the claim by the otherwise respectable Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, MP that the only bases of his allegations, were rumours and Appiah-Kubi, MP’s allegations.

We find it difficult to believe that with all the resources at his disposal, the Majority Leader and Minister would trot out and repeat allegations that he now say he did not verified either beforehand or after-the-fact.

Then there is the reported hostility by Appiah-Kubi, MP towards officers of the OSP and his flat-out refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

What is even more shocking is the report that both Appiah-Kubi, MP (the accuser) and the unnamed businessman (the accused) apparently engaged in a ‘rehearsed and well-choreographed… joint and similar denial’ of the attempted bribery event.

The result is that the OSP could not obtain any prosecution-worthy evidence on yet another allegation of corruption involving Parliament, an institution which has been plagued by and dogged with several corruption allegations over the years.

Although there have been no charges or prosecutions, the repeated allegations that MPs engage in various acts of corruption is not one that Ghanaians can ignore. Some derisorily, and maybe with some justification, refer to our Parliament as ‘Ghana’s leading transactional centre.’

From time to time, some MPs end up confessing that these shenanigans happen. While examples are legion, there has been one assured result – investigations lead to nothing.

For example, in 2014, Alban Bagbin (then MP and now Speaker of the House) was reported to have admitted that ‘there is evidence that some MPs take bribes and come to the floor and try to articulate the views of their sponsors.’ As expected, a reported parliamentary inquiry led to nothing.

In 2017, some minority MPs on the Appointments Committee, led by Mahama Ayariga, MP, reported an attempt to bribed them to approve a ministerial nominee. Another reported parliamentary enquiry led to nothing, as expected.

This time, two senior sitting MPs took turns to announce on radio that an unnamed rich businessman attempted to bribe a section of Parliament’s majority caucus.

These MPs are considered as heavy-weight leaders in our politics, and the least expected of them are dignity and the courage to stand by their convictions, if they have any.

They ought to be good examples for the rest of us and our children. Yet, their behaviour renders them unfit to be leaders. One would have expected them to resign in good conscience, but alas, we are stuck with such mediocrity.

As the OSP indicated in the report, the case is all but dead for lack of serious evidence to prosecute; but these ‘Honourable MPs’ (a phrase that is now generally accepted and understood as an oxymoron) will continue to occupy their seats and offices, and earn their salaries and even ex gratia, not caring about the damage they are causing to this country.

But we are not done yet. We have instructed our lawyers to advise whether we and Ghanaians have the constitutional right to information, to the name of the businessman, which the OSP inexplicably redacted from the report.

If we receive advice that we are entitled to that information, we will commence the relevant proceedings under the Right to Information Act to compel the OSP to reveal the name.

Corruption, like fungi, thrives in darkness and shadows, taking advantage of secrecy, self-imposed redactions, unjustified self-censorship and lack of accountability.

The corruption fungus abhors and cannot stand sunlight, and we will do all in our civil power to direct the power of light unto this matter. It just might produce further evidence that the OSP requires to revive the dead.

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Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Asante Akim MP Appiah Kubi had accused a prominent businessman of attempting to bribe them to withdraw their demand for Mr. Ofori-Atta’s removal in 2022.

Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu pledged that Parliament would look into the bribery allegations.

Subsequently, on November 3, 2022, the advocacy group Occupy Ghana petitioned the Special Prosecutor to investigate the claims.

However, after a year, in a six-page report, the OSP revealed that Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s lack of cooperation hindered the investigative process.

The report stated that the MP’s uncooperative stance yielded unsatisfactory results, with insufficient probative evidence to support criminal proceedings against the identified suspect.

According to the report, the Majority Leader denied having direct knowledge of the matter during the investigation.

The OSP expressed disappointment in Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s refusal to cooperate and disclose the suspect’s identity, considering his initial public accusation on a major media platform.

The report excerpts read, “Mr. Appiah-Kubi’s refusal to cooperate with the investigation and his refusal to disclose the identity of the suspect are most regrettable. It is quite perplexing for a Member of Parliament to level accusations of attempted bribery on a person (whether certain or uncertain) in a most spectacular and public manner on a network of a major media house and then stage a bizarre volte-face by refusing to cooperate with the investigation and refusing to disclose and/or confirm the identity of the suspect.”

Over 50 NPP MPs, including Mr. Appiah-Kubi, initially called for Mr. Ofori-Atta’s removal but softened their stance after a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo.

They acquiesced to Akufo-Addo’s appeal for the Minister to conclude the International Monetary Fund (IMF) negotiation.

The OSP noted that the investigation might be reopened if circumstances and additional facts necessitate such action.

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Read the full report below:

In most of the constituencies where the sitting MPs endorsed Dr Bawumia in the just-ended presidential primary, his close contender, Kennedy Agyapong emerged victorious.

They include Effutu, Awutu Senya East, Ayawaso West Wuogon, Ayawaso Central, Gomoa Central, Amasaman, and Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro among others.

Reacting to this on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Monday, Prof Gyampo said the MPs of the above constituencies are sitting on a ticking time bomb.

“These MPs couldn’t deliver their constituencies to Bawumia despite their public support. This shows they don’t have control and if they don’t take care, they will lose their seats,” he predicted.

Dr Bawumia was elected flagbearer of the NPP on Saturday after polling 61.47% in a fiercely contested election.

He beat his contenders Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, former Agriculture Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former Mampong MP, Francis Addai-Nimoh.

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Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews he stated that although he left the party to solely focus on Ghana, MPs are not obliged to do so.

He explained that they are in parliament on the ticket of the NPP to represent their constituents, and he understands if they are unable to work with him or throw their support behind him as an independent candidate.

“I have made a decision that I want to focus on Ghana. I’ve served my party honourably and nobody can dispute that. So I’ve moved on. I want to save Ghana. So I don’t have a problem with them,”  Mr Kyerematen said.

He added that “we shouldn’t see it as a desertion or anything like that. I actually realised right from the beginning that I should allow them to be able to serve their constituents because I’m not floating a new party. I’m not floating parliamentarians. That’s not what I’m seeking to do. So if they can still remain on the ticket of the NPP and when to go to parliament, why not?”

Mr Kyerematen says despite the fact that these MPs have influence in their constituencies he will not poach any of them to join his quest for presidency as an independent candidate.

“I’m promoting a government of national unity, with people from all walks of life, rich, poor, young, old, able, disabled, or physically challenged, people from the business community, people from media, people from academia, those who have something to offer to our country.”

“I want us to have a united governance mechanism and structure so that in parliament, you have ministers who have been appointed from NPP, you have ministers who have been appointed from NDC, from CPP, people who are apolitical, and I believe that they have the competence and the talent to help Ghana,” Mr Kyerematen explained.

The former Minister resigned from the governing NPP on Monday, September 26.

The presidential aspirant who placed third during the party’s Super Delegates Congress will contest the 2024 election as an independent presidential candidate.

At a much-publicised press conference, he indicated that “my decision to contest as an Independent Candidate will not destroy the Party, but instead provide the Party an opportunity to participate in a Government of National Unity in the future, and avoid the risk of going into opposition with no dividends, in what arguably will be a difficult general election in 2024.”

Following his announcement, some MPs who supported him as an NPP flagbearer aspirant made public statements declaring their position on the matter. They noted that they will not be breaking away from the NPP.

But, Alan Kyerematen says his goal in going independent is to push for a transformational agenda powered by the youth and bring young people and women to the centre of governance. 

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He disclosed this to journalists after the Special Prosecutor invited Mr Appiah Kubi for questioning on Wednesday.

The lawmaker expressed readiness to cooperate with the Special Prosecutor to ensure the right thing is done.

He, however, did not disclose the details of the information provided.

“The Special Prosecutor needed information from me and I have given the information, I have given a statement and that is the cooperation I’m talking about.

“I already appeared before the committee and I have testified, if they find it necessary to invite me again I will avail myself,” the MP stated.

The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and Mr Appiah Kubi alleged that a renowned businessman attempted to bribe the NPP MPs to stand down their demand for Mr Ofori-Atta’s removal.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu assured Parliament will investigate the allegation of bribery but pressure group, Occupy Ghana, on November 3, 2022, petitioned the Special Prosecutor to probe the allegations.

It was on the back of the petition Mr Appiah Kubi appeared before the Special Prosecutor for interrogation but he decided to call it communication.

Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor has said the Majority Leader will also be contacted as and when they are ready.

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Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has disputed claims he paid GHS30K each to parliamentarians who joined Vice President Dr Bawumia for the Akwasidae festival.

The Suame Member of Parliament (MP) has said he was not even in charge of the planning to have influenced the MPs with money.

Dr Bawumia was followed to the 40-day festival by close to 80 MPs from the NPP and received loud cheers when he arrived at the Manhyia Palace.

How the crowd responded to his presence at the Manhyia Palace, according to his proponents, was a testament to the fact that Dr Bawumia continues to be the toast of many.

But according to the Majority Leader, the MPs went voluntarily after it was communicated on their WhatsApp platform that Dr Bawumia will be going to Manhyia.

He, therefore, cannot fathom why anybody will make such false claims.

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“Even when the planning started, I was away with the Minority Leader, Speaker, clerks and other parliamentarians for a conference outside Ghana,” he said on Accra-based Okay FM.

Mr Kyei Mensah stressed their presence was even for Dr Bawumia to thank the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his support all these years.

He has, therefore, challenged anybody who has evidence that he made such payments to come out with it.

Listen to the audio above:

Tamale South Member of Parliament (MP), Haruna Iddrisu, on Thursday had difficulty finding a seat on the Minority side in the Chamber during proceedings.

He, therefore, had to settle on Bekwai MP and First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu’s seat on the Majority side which was vacant because he [Joe Wise] chaired the sitting.

Following the recent parliamentary leadership reshuffle, the former Minority Leader was asked to take the seat of Asutifi South MP, Collins Dauda in the front row.

Mr Dauda has, however, protested the decision which has left Mr Iddrisu hanging.

Mr Iddrisu has told the House, he won’t take the chair belonging to Mr Dauda but will occupy any other chair offered to him.

“There was [an issue] of whether I should take over from Collins Dauda or not and I have told them that Collins Dauda is senior by age…he is senior even to this House. So I will not sit in his chair as somebody who is well trained from home.

“So any other chair is acceptable to me, I am still the elected representative for Tamale South,” he said.

This brought amazement on the faces of the members, especially those from his side.

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It’s a ritual in the House that former leaders and senior members will occupy the front seat in Parliament.

But the side of the Minority has most senior members such as Cletus Avoka and Collins Dauda, hence, one of them has to accede their chair to Mr Iddrisu.

Former Deputy Majority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, has accepted the seat of his successor Armah Kofi Buah behind his former seat.

It is not clear yet where former chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak will sit.

The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party, Richard Ahiagbah, has urged the NPP MPs to support the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta even as they have called for his dismissal.

According to him, the MPs are representatives of the political party in Parliament working with the government to advance the promises made to Ghanaians in their manifestos.

Mr Ahiagbah made this known while speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday.

He further stated that the statement jointly signed by the party’s General Secretary and the Majority Chief Whip, which was issued yesterday, November 22 affirms the current position of the two bodies.

“The letter which was issued yesterday was only reaffirmation of the understanding reached by the majority caucus following the press conference held on 25th October and subsequent meeting with the President and the party.”

Mr Ahiagbah said as a member of the New Patriotic Party, it is a rule to abide by and publicly uphold the decisions of the party, thus the President and the MPs are not exempted.

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Some 98 NPP MPs have been demanding the immediate removal of the Finance Minister accusing him of economic mismanagement.

However, the entirety of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament has been urged by the Party’s executives to stand down on their demand for the removal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, till after the 2023 budget statement is read and appropriated.

This follows a meeting with the Caucus on November 22 to find an amicable resolution to the impasse in the NPP Parliamentary group.

Samuel Nartey George said any contrary action by the NPP MPs will mean they lack honour and thus do not deserve to be treated as such. 

Speaking on Metro TV on Thursday, the NDC MP said they will refer to the NPP MPs by their regular names and not honourable. 

He, thus, urged them to earn the title honourable today. 

“Today, it is a matter of honour. It is a matter of the title we so fight for. So they (NPP MPs) must earn their title today. 

“This is a call to the 137 on the Majority side. Earn your title. Else we will not call you honourable members for the rest of the term. 

“We will refer to you by your regular names because you are going to show Ghanaians that you lack honour,” he threatened. 

Mr Nartey George added the motion by his Caucus has no partisan motive. 

According to him, it represents the general demands of the majority of Ghanaians. 

“Ghana is at a crossroads today. Today Parliament has the opportunity to distinguish itself and ensure that we are masters of our own craft and ensure that we care about the people we represent. 

“The motion of censure that stands in the name of the Minority leader is not a motion that is to seek a partisan or political or parochial interest. It is simply in response to the calls by Ghanaians,” he added. 

The motion which was filed on October 25, per the constitution is to be debated upon and voted on the same after 14 days of its receipt by the Speaker of Parliament. 

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Today, Thursday, November 10, is the fourteenth day, after the motion was received by the Speaker. 

The grounds for the Minority’s motion include mismanagement of the economy, alleged withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund, and illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts among other reasons.

Ahead of that, the New Patriotic Party has ordered its Members of Parliament (MPs) to abstain from the vote of censure against the embattled Finance Minister. 

The party has thus asked the chief whips of the Caucus to ensure the order is complied with. 

In a press release issued on Wednesday, November 9, and signed by the General Secretary of the party, Mr Justin Kodua Frimpong, he said the decision was taken after wider consultation with major stakeholders.

“The leadership of the New Patriotic Party, following a broader consultation and engagements with stakeholders has resolved and hereby directs all members of the Majority Caucus in Parliament to abstain from a scheduled vote of censure being sought by the Minority Caucus against Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Finance. 

Meanwhile, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has warned that members of the Majority Caucus who had rebelled against the Finance Minister may face dire consequences should the vote of censure fail.

According to him, in the event the vote of censure fails, the 80 Majority Caucus members would be at the mercy of their party officials and this will not bode well for them.

Already, all NDC MPs have been instructed not to miss today’s sitting in order to get the required number to carry out their objective. 

The Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, has warned that there will be consequences should any member fail to show up.

She said considering the current economic crisis, the MPs should not have heeded President Akufo-Addo’s appeal for Ofori-Atta and Adu-Boahen to stay at post until IMF negotiations are concluded.

Speaking on Newsfile, Saturday, the Managing Partner at BVM Advisory Services noted that by acceding to the President’s appeal, the MPs have failed their constituents.

“It is a pity that when they went to meet the President, they honoured him and stood down when he asked them to.

“One was expecting that they will continue and in fact, for the sake of Ghana. Because the situation now is time-sensitive, the situation will not be the same by early next year.

“They need to act now. So for them to stand down, it is real pity and we hope that they come back.”

According to her, the MPs should join the Minority in their vote of censure against the Finance Minister.

She stressed that if the MPs fail to stand by their decision for Ken Ofori-Atta to resign, it will cost them their parliamentary seats in the next elections.

“The people of Ghana are suffering and especially the MPs you must consider your constituents. You are going to go back to them, you will not be MPs forever. When you go back, they will show you where power lies,” she added.

On Tuesday, October 25, 80 out of the 137 Majority MPs demanded the sacking of the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu-Boahen citing their poor management of the country’s fiscal space.

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The MPs at a press conference held at Parliament blamed the duo for the delay in the ongoing International Monetary Fund programme negotiations that is expected to give the country a bailout.

“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the President changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy.”

The group led by the MP for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah-Kubi said the failure of government to heed to their demands will result in their boycott of all government business.

“Meanwhile we want to serve notice, and notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the majority caucus here in Parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the President by any other minister.

“We hope that those of us [at] the backbench and members of the Majority Caucus will abide by this prayer. We are saying that if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate.”

Their move was applauded by the general public and other groups who have in the past called for similar action to be taken.

This drew the attention of the President who summoned the NPP MPs for a meeting on the substantive matter.

After the meeting with President Akufo-Addo, the MPs in a U-turn later acceded to the President’s appeal to allow Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu-Boahen to stay in office till after the IMF deal is sorted out and the 2023 Budget is presented to Parliament.

In a statement released by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, he said, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry will stay “until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill after which time the demand will be acted upon.”

Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Chairman for New Juaben North, Kwadwo Boateng Agyemang, has taken a swipe at some 80 Members of Parliament (MPs) who demanded the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister.

Mr Agyemang says he cannot fathom why these parliamentarians did not go through party structures but instead decided to come public with their demands.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, he indicated he has no problems with the concerns of the MPs but their strategy was wrong.

According to him, the MPs should have considered the interest of the party first as it was through that that they got into parliament.

“They will never be in parliament if not for the party and they should know that the party births the government, why didn’t they follow party structures?

“Even if they claim they engaged the Majority Leader, why didn’t they wait for a while for a response, instead they came out with their demands the next day and why the threats too? It is totally wrong,” he fumed.

The MPs held a press conference on Tuesday to impress on the President to relieve his cousin of managing the national purse or risk losing their support for government business going forward.

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The aggrieved MPs said their sentiments reflect the position of most of the NPP members in the House.

Following their concerns, President Akufo-Addo held a meeting with them to reconsider their position and therefore agreed that Mr Ofori-Atta should stay until the budget and the IMF processes are completed.

This to them means that they are looking at allowing Mr Ofori-Atta to stay in office for approximately the next six weeks.

But Mr Agyemang, who believes the party’s interest remains paramount and none of them can survive without NPP, has threatened to resign from NPP if even five of the MPs win an election as independent candidates.

Listen to the audio above:

A statement, signed by the party Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim, assured leadership is engaging with the MPs involved to have the issues resolved.

“The leadership of the party is currently engaging government as well as the parliamentary group and urges all stakeholders to remain calm as it seeks an amicable resolution to the impasse,” the statement read in part.

Some NPP MPs at a press conference on Tuesday demanded that Mr Ofori-Atta and Mr Boahen be removed from office over the economic woes.

Asante-Akim North MP, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi who addressed the media expressed hope the move will help restore confidence in Ghana’s economy.

However, the leadership of NPP has reiterated its commitment to, at all times, engage government on issues of utmost interest and concern to the party, government and the citizenry.

In a related development, reports indicate President Akufo-Addo has asked the disgruntled MPs to allow Mr Ofori-Atta to finish his negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

Documents available to JoyNews suggest a deal could be reached with the IMF in three weeks for a $3 billion balance of payment support. 

This, the President believes, could be disrupted if Ken Ofori-Atta is sacked or forced to resign.

This was an outcome of a meeting held by President Akufo-Addo and NPP Members of Parliament over the demand for the finance minister to be sacked over his handling of the economy.

Some NPP MPs say several efforts to have government address the plights of their constituents with regard to the ailing economy had proved futile.

They, thus, held a press conference on Tuesday, October 2022, to voice their disquiet and demanded the head of Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen.

Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency and spokesperson for the disgruntled Majority group, told the media on Tuesday that sacking Mr Ofori-Atta and Mr Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghana’s economy.

“The recent development within the economy is of major concern to our caucus and our constituents. We have made our grave concern known to our president through the parliamentary leadership and the leadership of the party without any positive response,” he said.

“We are by this medium communicating our strong desire that the president changes the Minister of Finance and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry without further delay in order to restore hope to the financial sector and reverse the downward trend in the growth of the economy,” he added.

But the meeting last night could not resolve the issue as the MPs left unhappy. 

It is unclear whether they will carry through their threat to boycott government business.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo is continuing his engagements with interest groups on the state of the economy. 

He is expected to meet the Forex Bureau Operators, Trades Union Congress, Ghana employers association, Market Women, the Ghana Journalist Association, and others.

The meeting, according to reports, is expected to come off on Tuesday evening.

Presidential Staffer, Charles Nii Teiko Tago, disclosed this in a Facebook post.

This follows a press conference by some Majority parliamentarians on Tuesday morning to demand Mr Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen’s dismissal over the ailing economy.

Spokesperson, Andy Appiah-Kubi, who doubles as NPP MP for Asante Akim North constituency who addressed the briefing said that members of the Majority will not participate in any government business including the budget hearing until their demands were met.

Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament has filed a motion for Mr Ofori-Atta’s removal.

The difficulty government is facing in Parliament to get the 2022 Budget approved is self-inflicted.

This, according to former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East constituency, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, is because some NPP MPs decided to vote for Alban Bagbin who is a leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

On Friday, November 26, 2021, Parliament voted to reject the 2022 budget. The vote to reject the budget was done in the absence of the NPP MPs as they had staged a walkout.

The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, said that their absence could not prevent the House from proceeding with the business of the day. That was the first time in the Fourth Republic that a budget had been rejected.

But Hon. Titus-Glover on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Monday said he is not surprised at the conduct of the Speaker of Parliament.

As a member of the NDC whose MPs had vowed to reject the budget, he did not expect Mr Bagbin to have ruled otherwise.

He blamed some NPP MPs who decided to vote for him [Bagbin] as Speaker to spite their own government.

“This is the result of some NPP MPs who decided to vote for Bagbin,” the former Tema East MP fumed.

He also blamed some supporters of the NPP who voted ‘skirt and blouse’ giving the NDC equal number as the party in government.

“I give the blame to NPP supporters who voted skirt and blouse in the 2020 elections. This is the end result of skirt and blouse,” Mr Titus-Glover added.

Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Obiri Boahene is worried over the silence of the majority of NPP MPs over the bill criminalising activities of homosexuals.

According to him, apart from NPP MP, John Ntim Fordjour, every other name mentioned when the issue comes up, is that of an NDC MP.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Kwesi parker Wilson, he said “I am surprised that I don’t see a good number of the NPP MPs championing this cause, I am worried.”

Mr Boahene who described the practice of gayism and lesbianism as embarrassing, insulting, and nauseating wants the majority of NPP MPs to let their voices be heard.

The bill in parliament is being spearheaded by six members of parliament including only one NPP MP, John Ntim Fordjour.

This comes after top clergymen and Islamic clerics presented memos to the House’s Committee of Constitution and Legal Affairs on Wednesday, in support of the bill.

The Church of Pentecost has declared its readiness to vote out any political party that stands against the passage of the bill.

However, a series of memoranda, which oppose the legislation, have also been presented to the Committee.

The sponsors of the memoranda describe the bill as an endorsement of state-sponsored violence against minority groups and an infringement on their human rights.

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However, Nana Obiri Boahene believes that since the discussions of LGBTQ+ is not only limited to the NPP or NDC, all well-meaning Ghanaians should join the discussions to ban their activities.

“No person should even encourage that we should not be talking about that, we should stop it. How do we discuss this even in the public domain,” he added.

Mr Boahen also urged Akoto Ampaw and his colleagues leading the charge to oppose the Anti LGBTQ+ bill, to abandon their position.

He said that “please my good brothers and sisters, it has got nothing to do with religion, it has nothing to do with politics, it has something to do with due respect and common sense, drop it.”

Social media was rife on Friday with photos of some MPs sleeping in the Chamber as a way to secure seats on the Majority side.

This was ahead of resumption of sitting for the 8th Parliament following its inauguration on January 7, 2021.

Taking to social media, Samuel Nartey George, the MP for Ningo Prampram, revealed MP for Abuakwa South constituency, Samuel Atta Akyea was responsible for the development.

According to Mr George, MP for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak and himself met Mr Atta Akyea around 8:30pm on Thursday.

In an attempt to satisfy his curiousity, Mr Atta Akyea asked what they were doing in the Chamber at that time.

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He indicated that he told them they were present for Friday’s sitting, a reply which brought shock on his face and caused him to rush his people.

Read the full post below:

See this 8th Parliament is going to be bae. Trust me. Let me tell you a true story.Last night at about 8:30pm, myself and my Chief Whip, Hon. Muntaka had to go back to Parliament to take care of a few things.

Just as we were about to go up the escalator, we ran in Hon Atta Akyea who enquired what we were doing in Parliament at that time.

We replied that we had arrived for sitting the next day! You needed to see the shock on his face as he walked away. He apparently notified his side and made them rush to Parliament at 4am to sleep in the chamber.

Well, we were in bed getting our beauty sleep at that time as we had agreed to get to the Chamber at 10am. There was no need for a rush or anything. We had won the battle and the war. We had elected the Speaker we wanted.

Even if they come to the Chamber at 2 am every day for the next 4 years, the NDC Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is the Speaker of Parliament.

May God make your opponents have sleepless nights whilst you rest in 2021. May they chase their shadows whilst you watch in humour and may they sleep when the time for work is due. May God force your opponents to play nonsense. Amen.

The MPs, clad in white, arrived early in their numbers to occupy the Majority side of the House ahead of the first sitting of the 8th Parliament on Friday.

The photos, which are fast circulating on social media, have garnered mixed reactions among Ghanaians.

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The leading member of the NPP earlier shared a message of an MP which read: “Good morning. We are already seated at the right side of the Speaker in Parliament, got here at 3:am.”

Mr Otchere-Darko, thus, said he was optimistic of an interesting four years and urged Ghanaians to book their seats in advance at the public gallery.

It is believed their move was to avoid another showdown that happened prior to the dissolution of the 7th Parliament.

With both political parties claiming majority after the keenly contested December 7, 2020, elections, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs trooped to the chamber and occupied the seats reserved for the majority last week.

The situation resulted in a dramatic inauguration of the 8th Parliament.

In their bid to avoid another drama, the NPP MPs also trooped to the Chamber to claim what they say is rightfully theirs, especially when the Fomena Independent MP has declared to do business with them.

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MP for Akuapem South, Osei Bonsu Amoah, was spotted keeping watch ahead of their first sitting at 10:am while many of his colleagues were also fast asleep in their chairs.

Photos, which have since popped up online, have generated massive reactions.

This comes after the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Haruna Iddrisu indicated at a press conference today, that regardless of the fact that the only independent candidate in Parliament, Andrew Asiamah Amoah has officially aligned with the NPP side, the NPP still does not have the majority in the House.

However, at a counter-press briefing, Mr Mensah-Bonsu of the NPP explained that the matter of who constitutes a majority in the House should not be a subject of litigation by the two parties in Parliament as it is rather a case of the side with the most numbers.

As such, should the Fomena MP maintain his position to sit with the NPP side of the House, then the NPP will have more numbers than the NDC, hence, will be declared as the majority in Parliament.

“These are initial stages, I want to believe that when the chips fall in place tomorrow [Friday, January15, 2021], we will be able to overcome this,” he said.

Although Mr Iddrisu maintains that there is no Majority or Minority in the 8th Parliament as both NPP and NDC have equal seats of 137, the Suame legislator is also optimistic that the addition of Mr Asiamah to their numbers gives them the power of the majority in Parliament.

This, he said, will ensure that the NPP Caucus will chair all committees except the two designated for the ‘Minority’ in Parliament.

Mr Mensah-Bonsu also welcomed the statement by Haruna Iddrisu indicating the NDC MPs willingness to sit on the left side of the Speaker which is the traditional sitting place of the minority in Parliament.