A Communications Team Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Parliamentary Candidate aspirant for Trobu, Lawyer Kojo Mensah, says he was deeply disappointed watching Minority MPs bang tables in Parliament during Tuesday’s uproar over the Kpandai seat.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Ghana Nie with Ama Gyenfa Ofosu-Darkwa, Lawyer Kojo Mensah described the conduct of the Minority as “shameful” and “lawless,” insisting that proper parliamentary procedures exist for challenging the Speaker’s rulings.
According to him, the current controversy stems from a case filed by the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Kpandai, who he said “respectfully submitted himself to the law.” The court, he explained, ruled that the NPP candidate was “illegally declared winner,” ordering a rerun of the election.
He argued that although the NPP candidate has filed an appeal and an application for stay of execution, that process does not overturn the court’s ruling nor estop the parliamentary process.
“There is a clear precedent that if you file a stay of execution, it doesn’t stop what is happening in Parliament,” he said. “So if you’ve not seen or heard the ruling, how do you disagree with it?”
Lawyer Kojo Mensah noted that it was the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who first raised the matter on the floor, urging the Speaker to apply the parliamentary precedent that once a court declares a seat vacant, the affected MP must not participate in proceedings.
“The Speaker in his wisdom gave a seven-day ultimatum, indicating that there may be a change. The seven days have elapsed, and the Speaker through the clark of Parliament has written to the Electoral Commission to take the necessary steps to conduct the rerun.”
Against this backdrop, he questioned the Minority’s insistence on having matters resolved their way, accusing them of unnecessarily disrupting parliamentary business.
“I was so ashamed of the actions of the Minority MPs yesterday,” he said. “If parliamentary business is all about wearing nose masks and holding placards, then I’m sorry—I am investing in the wrong venture.”
He expressed particular disappointment that his own MP for Trobu, Gloria Owusu, joined in the table-banging protest. “It doesn’t sound well of an MP,” he lamented.
Lawyer Mensah insisted the Minority had no authority to derail governance, emphasising that state institutions were functioning effectively.
“The Minority can never disrupt the government. John Dramani is very determined. Government is working, the Bank of Ghana is working. We are managing the economy properly,” he said.
He urged MPs dissatisfied with the ruling to seek redress through the courts rather than resort to demonstrations in the chamber.
“This is an issue of law. If they have any issue, they should go to court,” – Mensah stressed.
By Ebenezer Madugu
