Minority boycotts parliament

... until further notice
Accra, Feb 09, GNA - The Minority in Parliament on Thursday served notice of its decision to boycott Parliamentary business till further notice in protest over what it has described as the "wanton and flagrant disrespect for minority rights" by the majority. The Minority said its decision to disengage from Parliamentary proceedings was based on a matter referred to the Privileges Committee by the Speaker yesterday and the entrenched stance taken by the Majority in respect of the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Bill (ROPAB).

"This boycott is precipitated by the unprecedented referral to the Privileges Committee of a letter written for and on behalf of the MP for Avenor-Ave, Mr Doe Adjaho, by his counsel, seeking respect for the constitution and laws of Ghana."

"The move by the majority and subsequent referral by the Speaker, only reflects the growing intolerance and disrespect for the Minority rights in Ghana's current Parliament," Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader told an early morning press conference at Parliament House. "The other factor is the determined effort of the Majority to bulldoze the ROPAB through Parliament notwithstanding opposition from other political stakeholders and sensible advice from civil society," he said.
He said the partisan passage of ROPAB would lead to "disputed elections, which could directly result in conflict."
"We will continue in collaboration with likeminded political stakeholders to use all legitimate instruments available to us to prevent the NPP from dragging our dear country Ghana down the slippery slopes of instability and confrontation," Mr Bagbin said. "We therefore decided as a first step to disengage from the proceedings of the house till further notice," he said.
Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Deputy Attorney and Deputy Minister of Justice, yesterday delivered a statement in Parliament yesterday in reaction to a suit lodged by Mr Adjaho against the Speaker and Attorney General over the passing of ROPAB and the Speaker consequently referred the matter to the Privileges Committee.
On what would be the Minority's position in the event of the passage of the bill in their absence, Minority leader said they would continue with their protests through legitimate means should there be attempts to implement the bill.
When asked about the possibility of their seats being declared vacant after absenting themselves for a number of sittings days, in accordance with the rules of house, Mr Bagbin said it was not possible because they were absenting themselves with a reasonable excuse, which "reasonable excuse" was only to be determined by Parliament with views from both sides of the house. 09 Feb 06