Ato Forson: We'll Jealously Protect Our New Majority Status

As the political waters in Ghana continue to surge in different directions, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has, without mincing words, underscored his caucus' resolve to protect the newfound majority status.

These comments come after a fierce controversy that greeted a declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on 17th October 2024. This was after three MPs filed notices of their intention to contest the impending 2024 general elections as independent candidates, while the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, announced his intention to run on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.

Bagbin's declaration was to slightly tip the balance of power in favour of the opposition National Democratic Congress as the NDC has 136 MPs as against 135 for the NPP. The shift was to make the NDC the majority in the House.

That move was, however, quickly overturned by the Supreme Court, which ordered the suspension of the Speaker's declaration to ensure, for now, the status quo in the parliamentary numbers. Not deterred by that legal intervention, Dr. Ato Forson held a news conference on October 20 during which he swore his caucus' firm determination to "jealously guard" what they believe is their rightful majority.

Dr. Forson further berated the involvement of the Supreme Court, as he argued that his group's actions were denuding Parliament of its independence. He insisted that the NDC now constitutes the majority in the 8th Parliament and pledged that his team would not back down in defending their hard-won status.

As the wheels of political change turn, it is yet to be seen how this legal and political battle will come out, but one thing is certain: Dr. Forson and his NDC caucus are ready to engage in combat to save their seats in Parliament.