NPP, NDC MPs struggling to reset their minds to hung parliament reality – Rasheed Draman
The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman, has said both New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers are all struggling to accept the reality of a hung parliament.
This, he said, is because both parties in the past enjoyed overwhelming majority in Parliament and always had their way in the House.
Ghana’s Parliament in the year 2021 witnessed chaotic scenes over the introduction of the e-levy.
On Monday December 20, 201 the lawmakers could not hold their emotions as some exchanged brawls in the House.
The sit-in Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, had announced that a division would be followed to approve the Bill (now approved), that was presented under a certificate of urgency, and he was going to vote as well in his capacity as a Member of Parliament.
That appeared to have provoked the NDC members, who questioned his decision to vote after presiding over the night’s proceedings.
They moved to the front of the dais, issuing threats at the Bekwai MP.
This got the Majority MPs to also start agitations and immediately Mr Osei-Owusu handed the presiding role to the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the fight broke out.
Speaking in interview with TV3, Dr Draman said Parliament set a bad example with these fights.
He urged the leadership of Parliament to resolve their disagreement during their meetings before they appear on the floor.
This, in his view, will protect the image of Parliament.
“Over the years, both parties have been used to Majority having their way all the time, NDC has had it, NPP has had it, many times. Now there is a new reality and each party is having a lot of difficulties in terms of trying to reset its mindset to this new reality. That is what has been creating all these challenges.
“Parliament is setting a very bad precedent. We don’t want some of these to be be repeated. At the very least, particularly the leadership of Parliament, I know they have a structure, conference, meetings discussions and so on, I would have expected that most of these things are resolved there before they get on the floor.”
Source:3news
