Four independent MPs to do business with Majority - Agbodza informs Parliament
The Majority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has informed Parliament that four independent Members of Parliament (MPs) have decided to do business with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus in the House.
He, however, noted that the Majority Caucus was yet to officially communicate this decision by the MPs to the Speaker.
“Mr Speaker, the four colleagues of ours who are in this House as independent MPs indeed communicated to our caucus to caucus with us in doing business on the floor,” he said.
The four are Dr. Ohene Kwame Frimpong for Asante Akim North, Nandaya Yaw Stanley for Wulensi, Kwame Asare Obeng, commonly known as Kwame A Plus, for Gomoa Central, and Worlasi Kpeli for Afram Plains North, an NDC member who contested as an independent.
Since the four independent MPs do not number up to seven, they are not in a position to come together to become a third force in the House. Therefore, each of them is required to officially write individually to the Speaker to inform him of their decision to sit and do business with the Majority Caucus in line with the rules of the House.
Mr. Agbodza made this known on the floor of Parliament today during a discussion regarding the composition of the Selection Committee of Parliament.
The 17-member committee, chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, will oversee the selection of MPs for various committees of the House. Out of the 17 members, the Majority will have 12, while the Minority will have five.
The Majority members include Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Kwame Governs Agbodza, Comfort Doyoe, Ebenezer Terlabi, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Emmanuel Kojo Agyekum, Dr. Clement Apaak, Shaibu Mahama, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, and Richael Owusua. The Minority members are Mustapha Ussif, Patricia Appiagyei, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Habib Iddrisu, and Asante Boateng.
During the discussion, Mr. Agbodza said the composition of the Selection Committee being formed might change after the official communication of the decision by the independent MPs to do business with the Majority.
The Speaker, however, said that until he receives such official communication from each of the independent MPs individually, as they would be held responsible for such a decision, it would not be put on record.
“So, nobody is going to do it for and on behalf; they have to communicate it individually to the Speaker,” Mr. Bagbin said.