Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has told the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that parliamentary majority is secured through winning elections at the constituency level, not through manipulation of numbers in Parliament.
“You don’t sit in Parliament to manufacture a majority yourself,” he emphasised, stressing the importance of democratic processes and the need for political parties to earn their seats through legitimate processes.
There was drama in Parliament on Thursday when the Speaker, Alban S.K. Bagbin declared four seats vacant, explaining that the affected Members of Parliament (MPs) had filed with the Electoral Commission to contest the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections under different party affiliations than those they were initially elected under.
The affected MPs are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central).
This sudden move reduced the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) seats in Parliament, momentarily granting the NDC majority status.
However, in a swift reversal, the Supreme Court intervened within 24 hours, issuing a stay of execution that effectively nullified the Speaker’s ruling until the court hears the substantive case seeking clarification on the relevant constitutional provision.
Speaking at a rally in Nkawkaw, Dr. Bawumia addressed the issue head-on, urging the NDC to focus on winning the trust of the people in the constituencies rather than relying on tactics to disrupt parliamentary proceedings.
“I want them to understand that if they want a majority, they should come to the polling station, come to the constituency, and win an election, then go to Parliament,” the NPP presidential candidate said to thunderous applause.
He emphasised that parliamentary majority must be earned at the polling station, not created through political maneuvering in Parliament, intimating, “You don’t sit in Parliament to manufacture a majority yourself.”
Direct Challenge to NDC
Dr. Bawumia made it clear that the true battlefield lies with the voters, not in Parliament itself.
“We will meet them in the constituency; we will meet them at the polling station,” he stated, signaling his NPP’s readiness to defend every seat across the country.
He added that the NPP’s strength comes from its ground campaign, which he has personally led across the 275 constituencies.
“I have gone to over 200 constituencies and campaigned on the ground. I have seen the data, and I can tell you that if elections were held today, the NPP would have a decisive majority in Parliament,” he asserted confidently. “There is no doubt about it.”
Optimism for NPP’s Success
While the Vice President acknowledged that elections are still scheduled for December 7, he expressed unwavering optimism that the NPP’s momentum would continue.
“If things continue the way they are now, and with our unity, by midnight on December 7, you will hear that the NPP has a decisive majority in Parliament,” Dr. Bawumia noted.
“We will win at the polling station,” he reiterated, encouraging supporters to turn out in full force to ensure victory. “All of you should vote for the NPP.”
NPP’s Campaign Momentum
The NPP flagbearer’s campaign strategy has centred on visiting communities, engaging with voters directly, and highlighting the party’s achievements in infrastructure, education, and digital transformation.
According to Dr. Bawumia, he has been able to connect with voters across the country, assess their concerns, and gather crucial data that has bolstered his confidence in the party’s prospects.
He also emphasised the importance of unity within the NPP, calling on all party members and supporters to stay focused on the goal of securing a parliamentary majority.
“Our unity will be the key to our success on Election Day,” he stressed.
NDC’s Response
Meanwhile, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has vowed to defend his caucus’s parliamentary majority, undeterred by a recent Supreme Court ruling that temporarily blocks Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Dr. Forson emphasised that the Minority Caucus will “jealously guard” its position, refusing to back down or relent in its pursuit of fair representation.
“The effect of the Speaker’s declaration is that currently we no longer have an independent Member of Parliament. The NPP has 135 members… This effectively utters the configurations of Parliament significantly.
“The NPP group is now the Minority Caucus as defined in Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament. The minority caucus means members of the party or parties that have the second largest number of seats in Parliament.
“The NDC MPs in Parliament now constitute the Majority Caucus in this 8th Parliament. We will jealously protect our new majority status and we will not bow, retreat nor surrender our lawfully earned status,” he stressed.
December 7
As the December 7 elections approach, the stakes are higher than ever. Both the NPP and NDC are fighting for every constituency in what could be one of the most closely contested elections in the country’s history.
By Ernest Kofi Adu