Afenyo Markin dismisses fears of parliamentary chaos ahead of Tuesday’s session

Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin has downplayed concerns of potential confusion in Parliament during Tuesday’s session, following a press conference held by members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus on Sunday.

Responding to the NDC’s claim of majority status, Mr. Afenyo-Markin clarified that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus had sought interpretation from the Supreme Court regarding the current parliamentary dispute.

“As far as we are concerned, we have gone to the Supreme Court for an interpretation, and the Court has issued a directive,” he stated in an interview on Kokrokoo breakfast show on Peace FM.

He confirmed that a bailiff from the Supreme Court would serve Parliament on Monday morning, in line with the court’s decision, adding that “If the other side [the NDC] decides to act otherwise when Parliament meets on Tuesday, we will simply walk out.”

Reaffirming the NPP’s stance, Mr. Afenyo Markin denied that his caucus had boycotted Parliament since Thursday (October 17), explaining that they were merely staying away until the court reached a determination on the matter.

According to him, if the Speaker allows the NDC caucus to remain on the majority side, the NPP caucus will have no other option than to leave the house, stating his side does not have any plans of contending with the NDC.

“If we go to Parliament tomorrow and the NDC caucus insists on sitting in the majority section of the house, we won’t fight them. We will leave. Our weapon is the law,” Mr. Afenyo Markin asserted.

“We will not give them that theatre. Ghana is a responsible country with respected people. No NPP member will encourage any brawl. We leave everything to the conscience of the Speaker,” he added.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin also refuted claims by NDC Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza that the NPP has planned to deploy military personnel on the floor of Parliament in the NPP’s favour on Tuesday.