Kwame Agbodza Asserts NDC's Majority Position in Parliament

Kwame Governs Agbodza, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Adaklu Constituency in the Volta Region, recently emphasized his position as the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament. He stated that the NDC caucus plans to take the majority side when Parliament resumes on Thursday, November 7.

Agbodza referred to Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration on October 17, which left four parliamentary seats vacant after their occupants decided to run as independent candidates. Agbodza confirmed at a rally in Adaklu that, in his view, these MPs had effectively vacated their seats under Article 97 and were no longer considered Members of Parliament. He stated, “I’ll be going to Parliament on Thursday as the Majority Chief Whip and I’ll come back as Majority Chief Whip.”

The Speaker’s decision was based on a petition by Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu, who invoked Article 97 (1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution. As a result, the NDC lost one seat, bringing their count to 136, while the NPP lost three, leaving them with 135 seats, creating a level of uncertainty in the House.

Those impacted included Amenfi Central’s MP, Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah; Suhum’s Kojo Asante; Agona West’s Cynthia Morrison; and Andrew Amoakoh Asiamah of Fomena, who ran as an independent before aligning with the NPP for the upcoming election.

However, on October 18, the Supreme Court paused the Speaker’s ruling. A five-member panel, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, responded to an application by Majority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, arguing that the decision undermined the rights of constituents. The NDC caucus has since expressed its opposition, and Speaker Bagbin is taking steps to challenge the Supreme Court’s ruling.