Where there is no equality and justice there is no coexistence for development – Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh

The Member of Parliament for the Juaboso constituency in the Western North Region and a Ranking Member of the Health Committee, Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has attributed the current standstill in Parliament to lack of equality and justice.

The Ranking Member on the Health Committee in Parliament made this statement in an exclusive phone interview on a Sunyani base online television, Masemtvgh on Friday, 21st July, 2023.

Reacting on the viral accusations my some media houses and the NPP majority on the NDC minority deliberately sabotaging government businesses in Parliament by their constant absenteeism, Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh indicated that it was erroneous for any media house or any person to blame the minority caucus for what is happening in Parliament within the week.

”Where there is no equality and peace, there cannot be coexistence for development. Hon Akandoh added that the democracy that we have chosen must be accepted wholeheartedly”.

The Juaboso lawmaker explained the reason behind the decision by the minority caucus to accompany their colleague to court anytime he is to be appear in court for his trial.

”The government is in court with our colleagues and we all know how the trial is being conducted on a daily basis, a decision we see as a persecution which does not lead to fair hearing. As a result of this, we the minority have decided to register our displeasure to demand for fair trial by accompanying them to court anytime they are to appear in court for hearing because it is said that when you see an animal on top of your colleague, tell that animal to leave the two of you else if you ask the animal to leave your colleague, that animal will turn to you and it is said again that if you see the beard of your friend on fire, what you must do is to soak your beard in water”.

According to Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the government has sent three of their colleagues, Assin North MP – Hon James Gyakye Quayson, Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam MP who doubles as the Minority Leaders – Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and the Asutifi South MP – Hon Collins Dauda to court for various trials. The Juaboso lawmaker subsequently singled out the trial procedures for that of the Assin North Member of Parliament and described it as persecution.

”See how the government has impressed upon the court for a daily trial of the Assin North MP when there are several grieving cases of public interest that beg for attention. Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh sited the gruesome murder case of the then sitting Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North in the Eastern Region which has seen no progress by the government through the Attorney General.

”The late former MP for Abuakwa North was an NPP member who was murdered at his own residence at Shiashie and for close to eight years, though there has been a confession, that murder trial does not occur on a daily basis” he added.

According to Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the current Parliament (8th Parliament) is unique because Ghanaians voted to have equal number of Members for both the NDC and the NPP and that cannot be taken for granted.

On the numbers required to form quorum for parliamentary sittings, the Juaboso MP indicated that the NPP does not need the presence of the NDC to form quorum since their numbers are in excess. ”The NPP side does not require the presence of any NDC member to form a quorum for government businesses if they are serious to carry out their own government businesses because their numbers are in far excess”. Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who was not happy on the attempt by the NPP to accuse the NDC for sabotage in the media said ”there is no sense” in their attempt to accuse the minority as the ones behind the standstill of government businesses in Parliament.

”We will not allow the NPP to peddle falsehood in the media to create public disaffection for us because the minority have always outnumbered the NPP in Parliament on anyday and so the question is where are the NPP Members of Parliament and so if you are a government who has respect for your people, then you will not do what you are doing.

The Juaboso MP served noticed to the government that if the government allows the Attorney General to mislead them to persecute their colleagues, then the government will also have difficulties transacting businesses in Parliament with them.