The First Deputy Whip for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament, Habib Iddrisu, has reassured Ghanaians that the NPP caucus will remain disciplined when Parliament reconvenes on Thursday, November 7.
His assurance comes amid ongoing debates regarding which party holds the majority status in the House.
Iddrisu’s comments respond to a recent statement by Governs Kwame Agbodza, Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Adaklu, who claimed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus will assume the majority position.
Agbodza’s assertion follows Speaker Alban Bagbin’s recent decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, which he believes now gives the NDC caucus the numerical advantage to control the House.
Agbodza further stated that he would be attending Thursday’s parliamentary session as the Majority Chief Whip, signaling a shift in the balance of power.
This announcement has stirred debate within Parliament as both parties prepare for the upcoming session.
In an interview with Citi FM on Wednesday, November 6, Iddrisu pushed back against Agbodza’s claims, stating that Speaker Bagbin has not yet definitively granted the NDC caucus majority control.
He stressed that the Speaker’s declaration of vacant seats alone does not automatically shift majority status to the NDC, adding that the NPP remains cautious about any procedural overreach.
Iddrisu noted that if the Speaker does not provide further clarification on the majority position, the NPP caucus would have to reevaluate its strategy in Parliament to ensure that parliamentary procedures and norms are respected.
He emphasised the NPP’s commitment to a fair process and to upholding the principles of parliamentary democracy in the forthcoming sessions.
"What Kwame Agbodza, the Minority Whip, is saying—we will not engage in any drama. I can assure you and also Ghanaians that we in the NPP are law-abiding citizens. We are Democrats, and we will not be involved in any revolutionary chanting or fighting."
“If, tomorrow, the Speaker cannot make it categorically clear that he never said the NDC was the majority and, for that matter, they cannot occupy the majority seat, and if he is going to bring drama in there, we will not be part of it. We will advise ourselves accordingly,” he stated.
Credit: myjoyonline.com