Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) minority caucus, led by Afenyo Markin, of hypocrisy in its criticism of the use of certificates of urgency in Parliament.
Speaking after the NPP minority’s press conference on Monday, Mr. Ayariga pointed out that under previous NPP-led Parliaments, 30 bills were passed using certificates of urgency between 2017 and 2021, with another 26 expedited between 2021 and 2024.
“Sadly, Afenyo Markin has brought the leadership of a caucus to such low levels,” Mr. Ayariga said.
He explained that most bills taken under a certificate of urgency are noncontroversial and often undergo extensive review before being reintroduced for swift passage. Some, he added, are expedited to meet timelines tied to international agreements or programs.
“The minority always has the opportunity to propose amendments to any bill processed under a certificate of urgency,” he said.
Mr. Ayariga stressed that the use of certificates of urgency does not constitute wrongdoing or abuse of parliamentary procedure. “Taking a bill under a certificate of urgency is a standard legislative practice and does not imply misconduct in the passage of the bill,” he said.
The NPP minority has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) majority of exploiting its numbers in Parliament to push bills through under certificates of urgency.
