Parliament was thrown into a state of confusion on Thursday dawn, January 7, 2021, when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus rejected a decision by the Clerk of Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, to prevent the Member of Parliament (MP) elect for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson from taking part in processes for the selection of a Speaker for the House.
The drama unfolded after the Clerk indicated that he cannot recognize Mr. Quayson as a member for parliamentary business and the selection of Speaker owing to the restraining order from the Cape Coast High Court.
After the Clerk’s ruling, the leader of the NDC Caucus in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu demanded to see the said court document served on the Clerk of Parliament barring the Assin North from the day’s proceedings.
Many of the MPs on the NDC side were later seen rushing to the Clerk’s lobby in protest of the Chairman’s decision.
Police and Marshalls of Parliament had a tough time trying to ensure sanity in the House.
Security officers and the Marshalls had to form human walls to protect the Clerk from being confronted by the NDC MPs-elect.
Although Mr. Quayson was spotted in the House on Thursday, January 7, 2021 for inauguration despite his injunction, his fate was determined after Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin raised concerns over his presence in the House.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) to which Mr. Quayson belongs mounted a defence for its member saying he has not been served with the injunction and must therefore be allowed to represent the people of Assin North in the 8th Parliament.
But after rounds of counter-debates between the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) sides, the Clerk of the House, Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, admitted to receiving the injunction and ruled that he cannot recognize Mr. Quayson to duly participate in the selection of the Speaker for the 8th Parliament.
“I was duly served, and I am therefore unable to recognize James Quayson as MP-elect for the purposes of the election of Speaker. I will therefore accordingly proceed in the conduct of this election”, the Clerk stated during the inauguration of the 8th Parliament.
