Majority’s failure to hold their end of the bargain cause of parliamentary woes – Sam George

The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, says the minority caucus in parliament cannot take the blame for how parliamentary business has taken a nosedive in recent times.

According to the lawmaker, the unfortunate situation is not the minority caucus’ doing as has been suggested.

He explained that the Majority caucus has proven that they cannot be trusted whenever both parties are to make a decision on a matter.

This, he said is reflected in their posture of always taking a different course whenever both caucuses have reached an agreement on an issue. Sam George said that what has looked like a stampede on parliament’s progress in recent times has been caused by the Majority’s refusal to fulfill its end of the bargain.

“From our side, we don’t trust the Majority. They have not been men of their words especially when it comes to decisions that were taken by leadership. If leadership has gone in to have certain conversations and one side has carried out its side of the bargain and then the other side begins to flip flop, and then leadership comes back to say we want to have a conversation to pass this bill, the back bench will not accept it.

“We cannot trust the words of the other side because they’ll always flip-flop. The problem in parliament today is simply the inability of the NPP side to stick to whatever bargain has been made,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday.

The Majority Caucus in Parliament has chided the Minority Caucus for raising issues of quorum. According to them, the Minority MPs are being mischievous.

Parliament required a minimum of 92 MPs present on July 17, to make a decision on a matter. But the house was unable to reach a decision because a most of the minority MPs had gone to court to support a fellow MP, James Gyakye Quayson.

The legislator is standing trial for allegedly committing offences including perjury and forgery.

According to the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, the MP did not renounce his Canadian citizenship before contesting the Assin North seat in 2020. Ghana’s law prohibits dual citizenship holders from occupying public offices without renouncing the other.

The prosecution is still ongoing despite Mr Gyakye Quayson having later renounced his Canadian citizenship and also won a by-election subsequently to represent the constituency.

In what looks like a retaliation, the Minority Caucus has resorted to accompanying their colleague to court every seating day till the case is discontinued.

In a press statement, they cautioned that business in parliament would suffer if the government does not discontinue the prosecution.

Sam George however says the majority themselves are involved in rigorous campaigns for their preferred flagbearer hopefuls to lead the NPP in the upcoming general election.

He argues that their focus which has strayed from parliamentary activities is what has also affected parliamentary businesses.