The leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has stated that the NPP will not provide the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the platform to ‘destroy the nation.’

Speaking to the press at Parliament on October 22, 2024, Afenyo-Markin emphasized the NPP's commitment to law and order, contrasting it with the recent actions of the NDC.

He highlighted the NPP's long-standing tradition of using civil advocacy and the courts to address grievances, accusing the NDC of being disruptive to the democratic process.

“We are law-abiding. We have heard our colleagues say that they disagree with the Supreme Court. They've been using unprintable words on the Supreme Court... Our forebearers always used the court to correct wrongs. Since 1992, our leaders have always used civil advocacy and the courts to ensure we get the peace we have today," Afenyo-Markin stated.

He continued by accusing the NDC of seeking to disrupt democracy and stated, “The country is hereby informed that we will not give that lawless platform that NDC seeks. We will not give them that platform. We will not give them that theatre they so aggressively seek to disrupt democracy and to destroy our nation.”

Afenyo-Markin assured the public that the NPP would uphold the rule of law and protect the interests of innocent Ghanaians.

His comments come in response to a press conference held by the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in which the NDC announced plans to occupy parliamentary seats.

Background

On Thursday, October 17, the Speaker of Parliament declared four parliamentary seats vacant, just two months before the December elections. This decision followed a heated debate in the House, initiated by a petition from former NDC Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu.

The affected legislators are Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah (NDC - Amenfi Central constituency, Western Region), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Independent - Fomena, Ashanti Region), Kojo Asante (NPP - Suhum, Eastern Region), and Cynthia Morrison (NPP - Agona West constituency, Central Region).

This ruling altered the balance in Ghana’s hung parliament, which had previously given the governing NPP a slight majority with support from Independent MP Andrew Amoako Asiamah. The NDC now holds 136 seats in the House, while the NPP has 135.

However, on October 18, 2024, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling, allowing the affected MPs to continue their duties until a final verdict is reached. This means the NPP retains its majority status, while the NDC remains in the minority.

Watch the press conference below:



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Watch a video from Tuesday's sitting below: