A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has asked the Members of Parliament for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to reconsider their decision to boycott Parliament.
This statement was made after the immediate past Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin announced the caucus boycott of parliamentary proceedings in protest against Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four seats vacant, making the opposition NDC the majority in the parliament.
Prof Gyampo expressed his thoughts on the NPP’s decision to boycott Parliament saying it could distract governance and prevent critical bills from being passed, especially with elections just weeks away.
He also stated, that without the NPP’s involvement in Parliament, essential government activities could come to a standstill.
“The best thing the NPP Caucus must do is to be in Parliament and to ensure that they continue to contribute to parliamentary sittings. I don’t know what is going to happen because this means the government is essentially going to grind to a halt if Parliament is not going to do government business.’’
“And that is not going to augur well even though we have a few weeks to elections. We all know there are government businesses that would have to be tabled and discussed. So suddenly boycotting Parliament means all these tasks would not be done or it would be difficult,” he said on the Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Friday.’’
He also reminded the NPP that their actions in 2020, which he described as a misapplication and misinterpretation of the law, have come back to affect them negatively.
“As I said, if you sacrifice what is right on the altar of political expediency, it comes back to haunt you. The NPP misapplied and misinterpreted the law in 2020, today the same has happened and it goes against them, I think they should just lick their wounds and not be overly emotional.”
He urged the NPP to cooperate with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus to ensure that the necessary bills and parliamentary business are completed in the interest of the nation.
He further on stated that they shouldn’t be too happy because it may be their turn soon.
“Go back to Parliament and see how best they can work with the NDC Caucus to ensure that the bills and other businesses that were outlined are done for the betterment and interest of mother Ghana. So staying at home and boycotting parliamentary sitting in my view is not the best thing to do.”
Read also: This is the beginning of a process to reset Ghana – Ato Forson
Source: Freddrick Thompson Quartey/ATLFMNEWS
