NDC wants overwhelming majority to amend constitution – Oppong Nkrumah

The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has alleged that there is a premeditated plan by the ruling National Democratic Congress government to ensure an overwhelming majority in Parliament to facilitate constitutional amendments.

The comments come amid heightened tensions in Parliament when Minority MPs blocked Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga from responding to calls for the withdrawal of a letter declaring the Kpandai parliamentary seat vacant.

Proceedings were suspended temporarily after Minority MPs, dressed in black, chanted, banged tables, and disrupted the session.

The controversy stems from a December 4 letter from the Clerk of Parliament to Electoral Commission Chairperson Jean Mensa informing her of the vacancy in Kpandai following a High Court ruling.

Minority MPs have described the letter as “out of place” and “unfortunate,” claiming it violates the rule of law.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Tuesday, December 9, Nkrumah drew comparisons with previous high-profile removals in Ghana’s public service.

He noted that prior to the NDC coming into power, there had been a “pre-advertised agenda” to remove the Chief Justice, which was executed under the guise of procedure.

According to Nkrumah, a similar strategy is being applied to the current Electoral Commission.

“There is a pre-advertised agenda to get rid of the EC commissioner and her deputies. It is being rolled out and they will say it is procedure, procedure.

“We are telling you if you still don’t believe it, that there is a pre-advertised agenda to ensure that there is an overwhelming majority in this chamber for the purpose of constitutional amendments,” he asserted.

Nkrumah stressed that Minority MPs will stand firm and remind Speaker Alban Bagbin not to succumb to any pressure to declare the Kpandai seat vacant, noting that the Speaker has already made a ruling on the matter.

“What we can do is to stand on our feet and draw Mr Speaker’s attention that he should not buckle to any pressure being put on him to declare that seat vacant because he has already made that ruling. No amount of pressure should be brought on him to make that declaration,”  he underscored.

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