Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament, has vowed that his caucus will fiercely protect their newly attained majority status following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
At a press conference on Sunday, October 20, Dr. Forson defended the Speaker’s decision, highlighting that the affected MPs had violated Article 97(1)(g) and (h) of the Constitution by filing to contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates or switching political parties.
“The effect of the Speaker’s declaration is that we no longer have an Independent Member of Parliament. The NPP now has 135 seats, and the NDC, with 136 seats, is the Majority Caucus,” Dr. Forson stated.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling to stay the execution of Bagbin’s decision, Dr. Forson reaffirmed the NDC’s determination to defend their new majority status, emphasizing that the Speaker’s decision was lawful and in line with parliamentary rules.
He insisted that the NDC would not relinquish their position in Parliament, stating, “We will jealously protect our new Majority status and will not bow, retreat, or surrender our lawfully earned status.”
