Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and MP for Suame Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and MP for Suame Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has called on members of Parliament and the Speaker Alban Bagbin should take the ruling of the Supreme Court and declare the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the majority caucus.
In an interview on Angel FM on November 22, 2024, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that the back and forth between both caucuses and the Speaker of Parliament is a waste of time.
The MP for Suame emphasized that it’s left with a few weeks for the 8th parliament to be dissolved therefore it is imperative that issue is addressed amicably.
“I want us to think about the affairs of the country. Asiedu Nketiah is part of John Mahama’s campaign team hoping to become victorious in the December 7 election. So assuming the NDC wins and Parliament has not approved the mini-budget, how would the NDC government be able to govern the country in 2025?
“And also assuming the NDC wins and decides to summon members of Parliament and the NPP caucus also refuses to go, how can your government operate? So this back and forth is worthless. The Supreme Court has given its ruling so we have to accept it, come together to prevent any mayhem after the election,” he said.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also threw his support behind the LGBTQI+ bill.
“I am a Christian and an Asante, and my norms and beliefs frown on the whole LGBTQ thing. Even the Muslim teaching doesn’t support such a thing and not even our customs and traditions. But the problem is how parliament approved the bill. When the private member bill came before Parliament, it had some ups and downs so I tried my best to shape it,” he said
Background
The Supreme Court on November 12, 2024, overruled Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
The Supreme Court’s verdict follows a suit filed by Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the leader of the NPP caucus, challenging Speaker Bagbin’s ruling.
Per the Supreme Court’s ruling led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the NPP should reclaim its position as a Majority in Parliament.
JHM/EK