THE ISSUE OF WHO CONTROLS PARLIAMENT

THE ISSUE OF WHO CONTROLS PARLIAMENT

Dear Editor,

Kindly permit me some space to express my opinion on the issue of what constitute majority in Ghana parliament.



The issue of which of the two political parties in the run-off will control the 2009 parliament in terms of numbers have generated a lot of counter explanations. It has now become the issue for campaigning, both in the airwaves and various campaign grounds. Whiles the NDC is claiming of having majority of seats after the December 10 parliamentary results, the NPP has openly disagreed. This may be due to what political analyst describe as a “slim majority” obtained by the NDC in the just ended elections. Those counter explanations and intentional disagreements should not be considered strange due to the various opportunities the party considered majority stands to gain from the electorates in this crucial run-off. Of course, the complimentary support from the electorates especially floating voters should not escape ones political eyes and imaginations.



In an attempt to confuse and possibly woo support from floating voters, a number of authorities and personalities have created and imagined figures a party can obtain to be considered majority in parliament. One these baseless arguments that caught my attention were the one advanced by the NPP’s presidential candidate at Bolgatanga.



According to the 19th December edition of the Ghanaian Times, page 11, Nana Akuffo Addo said, the 113 seats obtained by the NDC does not constitute majority. He further said the party needed 116 seats which according to him constituted majority in a parliament of 230 seats. The basis of his argument, Nana reluctantly failed to provide. He rather undoubtedly gave credit to his party in terms of majority and describing it as a “working majority”. He beefed up his working majority by concluding that, the four independent MP’s elect, who were members of the NPP, but went on independent tickets due internal grievances in the party during the primaries would come back to give them the numbers. He added that, the NPP is capable of winning the Asutifi South and the Akwatia seats. To the 3 PNC and CPP MP’s elect, Nana said, his party’s good working relationship with their parties will help lure them to their sided. All these he said are possible happenings and will therefore give the party a working majority, working majority of course!



Though the 1992 constitution is silent on the issue of majority, the Standing Orders of Parliament has some information on the issue. According to it, a party / parties with the highest number of seats in parliament constitutes majority and therefore choose(s) the speaker. Parties in this case refers to two or more political parties coming together to contest an election which did not happen in the 2008 elections. This means that, there is no clear number of seats a party / parties can obtain to constitute a majority in parliament so; the source of Nana’s 116 seats needed to constitute a majority?

For Nana Akuffo Addo, who according to his supporters is celebrating his thirty-one years in active politics to have advanced such a baseless argument, it sends down shivers on us floating voters. His law profession which though, was questioned not quite long by the former president and his wife also fall sort of this source less figure of 116 seats to constitute majority.



Nana’s claim of a possible come back of the four independent MP’s elect is also wavering. These four gentlemen as we all know opted to contest their party’s candidates independently due to what many people considered as unfair treatment meted out to them during the primaries. Nana, of course was aware of this and could have resolved the matter If indeed he wanted to unite the party for more votes/seats. He should also be guided by the incident that happened in the NDC’s camp in 2000. A number of independent MPs including Hon. Abubakar Sadicq, MP for Saliga, Mr. Joe Akutibila, former MP for Bomkoriku Yooyo and Mr. Rasheed Bawa former MP for Kadjebi Akan, deserted their mother party in parliament to join the NPP that was having the largest number of seats at the time. The same thing can equally happen to the NPP in the 2009 parliament taking into consideration the grievances that caused these men to go independent. It is therefore a forgone conclusion that, the four independent MPs elect would join the NPP’s side to give them the working majority Nana claimed they will get.



The NPP’s flag bearer should not also forget that, a good working relationship with Dr. Papa Kwesi Ndoum of CPP does not necessarily mean that, Mrs. Samir Nkrumah would join the NPP in transacting business in the house. He should of course , also be reminded of the fact that, the three PNC MPs who on the 16th of December surrounded their three votes to the NPP will on the 7th of January, 2009 be seen as former MPs. The two PNC MP’s elect will then consider a number of issues before joining a party in parliament. Though good relationship will also be considered, the NDC will not be excluded. These MPs elect will as well consider joining a party with a clear lead in terms of numbers obtained in other to benefit from decision making process and the consequent developmental benefits to their constituencies.

Even though, it will also be wrong on the side of the NDC to say that their clear lead in the parliamentary seats will lure the seven MPs elect to their side in parliament, the NPP’s argument is totally unreliable. In fact, theirs should have been the least expected. Nana’s legal credentials should have also alerted him that, the Mps elect can only support the NPP in decision making but cannot denounce total support for the party which means they cross carpeted.



The NPP, I should think is alarmed of the changing trends in the minds of the electorates. The good people of Ghana will like to compliment the NDC’s lead in the parliamentary seats by voting for the Prof. to ensure smooth and professional management of the economy rather than putting into test Ghana ’s toddle-like democracy. But this does not mean that, NPP’s big whips and the whole Nana should go about peddling unfounded arguments that are outside the issue base campaign that, he Nana advocated for at the beginning.



In other not to be confused and subsequently thump printing at the wrong place because of these intentional disagreements, floating voters should watch out. The party/parties with the highest number of seats in parliament after an election is/are the majority, simple and clear. This means that the NDC’s 114 seats set them steps ahead of their closest contender, the NPP, as they thrill with 107 seats.



Nana should therefore provide the facts and let the good people of Ghana make a genuine choice to reflect their wishes and wants come December, 28.



Akalaare Azidizian
Box 112, Tongo-Bolga