NPP Must Be Bold Enough to Accept the Blame for Parliamentary Impasse – Collins Adomako-Mensah
Collins Adomako-Mensah urges the NPP to take responsibility for the current deadlock and cautions against further parliamentary disruption
- Adomako-Mensah regrets NPP MPs' vote for Alban Bagbin as Speaker
- He emphasizes the need for the NPP to accept responsibility for the current crisis and its consequences
- Adomako-Mensah warns that the failure to pass the 2025 Budget could lead to a national standstill
Collins Adomako-Mensah, the Member of Parliament for Afigya-Kwabere North, has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to take responsibility for the ongoing Parliamentary deadlock.
Reflecting on the election of Alban Bagbin as Speaker of the 8th Parliament, Adomako-Mensah expressed regret over the decision.
Adomako-Mensah lamented on the Lawson TV/Radio Ghana Se Sen Morning Show with Kwame Tanko that, “Given the current situation, we in the NPP must have the courage to take responsibility for part of the blame. Now, you’re criticizing Bagbin, but we have until January 7th, and we’ll have to live with it. What I’m really concerned about is the ballot paper. It’s very risky, and that’s why I’m urging everyone to be extremely cautious when handling the ballot paper during this election.”
“Bagbin is so powerful that he can use just one statement to vacate your seat, which the people of Afigya Kwabere voted for you to hold. Bagbin is so powerful that if you stand up and want to speak, you have to catch his eye first. He can direct the Marshalls to walk you out at any time. The Parliamentary Service Board was reconstituted immediately after Bagbin was elected,” he continued
Meanwhile, Parliament remains suspended following the NPP MPs’ failure to attend a session on November 7, 2024, leading to an indefinite adjournment.
Speaker Bagbin voiced disappointment over the lack of quorum, which halted any legislative action.
In a bid to resolve the crisis, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader, has submitted a memo urging the Speaker to recall Parliament to address urgent national matters, including tax exemptions, the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, Supreme Court nominations, and more.
Afenyo-Markin proposed emergency dates of November 28 and 29, 2024, for the recall.
Reflecting on the situation, Adomako-Mensah noted that the hung parliament has not been beneficial for the country’s democracy, adding, “I do not pray for another hung parliament in the future.”
“Sometimes I feel pity for Annor Dompreh; he had to ensure we were all seated. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had to debate with the Speaker to delay the proceedings so we could arrive before they began,” he revealed.
He also stressed the critical importance of passing the 2025 Budget, warning that the country could grind to a halt without it.
