Collins Dauda, Gyakye Quayson and Cassiel Ato Forson
Parliamentarians from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) boycotted the session Tuesday, piling pressure on the government to drop court cases against some of their colleagues, particularly the Assin North MP.
From the start of the proceedings until the conclusion, the Minority’s side of the chamber was empty, reiterating their steadfast promise to always abandon Parliament in order to prevent the House from having a quorum to conduct public business if the government did not drop the charges against James Gyakye Quayson.
Following the swearing-in of the Assin North MP, the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson accused the government of harassing opposition lawmakers and reiterated the point that amidst “persecution, cooperation will suffer.”
Relations between the governing NPP and opposition NDC have been strained, often leading to an impasse during Parliament sessions.
The Minority said it has planned a number of parliamentary business boycotts in support of Gyakye Quayson, and yesterday’s one was the second in that series.
On July 6, 2023, the NDC MPs abandoned the House and went to support the MP for Assin North in his court trial.
The NDC Minority indicated in a statement that the boycott of yesterday’s sitting was to “accompany and solidarise with two members of the caucus, namely Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader, and James Gyakye Quayson, MP for Assin North.”
The statement, which was signed by Kwame Governs Agbodza, Minority Chief Whip, indicated, “The two are due to appear in court this morning [referring to Thursday] in their respective ongoing prosecutions by the Attorney General and the NPP Government.”
“The Minority stands united with our colleagues, and as such will not be able to honour the business of the House today,” the statement noted.
It added, “This is the beginning of a series of actions that the Caucus will be embarking on to end the ongoing persecution of the Minority Leader himself, the Hon. James Gyakye Quayson and the Hon. Collins Dauda.”
Be Measured
Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah has urged members of the Minority to exercise restraint in their boycott of the House’s businesses.
He stated that while the Minority have the right to boycott, their continued absence from the chamber is interfering with House operations.
Speaking to the media in Parliament yesterday, Mr. Boamah said, “The impact of the absence of the Minority in the chamber is being felt. We all know the contribution of the Minority when it comes to the business on the floor.”
“It is a very important caucus in our parliamentary business. So any decision by the Minority not to take part actively in the business of the House will definitely affect proceedings.
“It is a very unfortunate situation that we are going through. The Minority is exercising its right under the laws to go and solidarise with our colleague, Quayson, who was sworn in a week ago,” he asserted.
He continued, “I want to entreat the Minority to reconsider their decision because Hon. Quayson is duly represented by very experienced lawyers who can fight his case for him. It is very important that we also get measured with what we do with regard to our responsibilities as Members of Parliament.”
According to him, MPs must be present in the chamber to represent the people who elected them.
“Yes, you can show solidarity, but you should not forget about your responsibility as a Member of Parliament.
“It’s a right; it’s a caucus’ decision and a party decision, and I respect that. But I am entreating them. There ought to be a limit to what they do, especially when we have a business on the floor to partake in,” Mr. Boamah noted.
His comments followed another boycott by the NDC MPs on Tuesday to go and solidarise with the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, who is facing trial on five counts of forgery of passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration for office.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House