Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Prampram, criticized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members for boycotting Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, characterizing it as an “exhibition of arrogance of power.”
He suggested that this behavior could lead the NPP to opposition in the upcoming elections.
The NPP MPs refused to attend the sitting on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, after the House resumed following a dispute over vacant seats. Sam George, speaking with Akua Sarpomaa in Parliament, condemned the NPP MPs’ actions as disrespectful to the Speaker’s office and Parliament as a whole.
The NPP MPs claimed they were waiting for the Speaker to arrive before entering the chamber, as their position as the Majority had been occupied by the NDC MPs. However, Sam George criticized their behavior, stating that parliamentary proceedings usually involve waiting for the Speaker to arrive before conducting business.
The confusion arose from a ruling by the Speaker of Parliament on Thursday, October 17, 2024, which declared four seats vacant, reducing the NPP’s membership to 135 and leaving the NDC with 136 members. Both parties are now claiming majority status, leading to a stalemate in the House.
The NPP caucus leader filed a motion in the Supreme Court, resulting in a ruling to uphold the Speaker’s decision, further escalating the confusion. As a result, the Speaker adjourned sitting indefinitely after the House couldn’t attain quorum.
