In Parliament, a heated exchange erupted between the Majority and Minority, culminating in sharp accusations from the Majority Leader, Mr. Mahama Ayariga.
The dispute centered on claims by the Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus, led by Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, that the Majority National Democratic Congress (NDC) was abusing its numerical advantage by rushing bills through Parliament under a Certificate of Urgency.
At a press conference on Monday, the Minority alleged that the NDC was strong-arming legislation, prompting Mr. Ayariga to set the record straight. He reminded the house and the nation that the NPP, during its time as the Majority, had made liberal use of the same parliamentary procedure. “Between 2017 and 2021, the NPP-led Parliament passed 30 bills under a Certificate of Urgency,” Mr. Ayariga revealed. “From 2021 to 2024, an additional 26 bills were expedited using the same process.”
Ayariga did not mince words, criticizing Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s leadership and the Minority’s stance. “Sadly, Afenyo-Markin has brought leadership of a caucus to such low levels,” he lamented, describing the Minority’s position as inconsistent with its own legislative track record.
The Majority Leader explained that bills passed under a Certificate of Urgency are typically non-controversial or are later revised and reintroduced to address urgent national priorities. Some, he noted, are fast-tracked to fulfill obligations arising from Ghana’s international agreements and programme timelines.
Importantly, Ayariga emphasized that the Minority always has the right to propose amendments to urgent bills, arguing that the use of this procedure is not inherently abusive or unlawful. “The process does not in itself amount to wrongdoing or legislative abuse,” he asserted.
As tensions simmered, Mr. Ayariga called on the Minority to be honest and consistent. He maintained that the Certificate of Urgency is a legitimate parliamentary tool, urging his counterparts to uphold integrity in their critique of parliamentary processes.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
