Mahama Ayariga: Blame NPP MPs for Delays in Government Business

Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga declared without mincing words on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, that the NPP MPs should be blamed for the delays in conducting government business. This was after a stormy session in Parliament when NPP MPs refused to enter the Chamber to transact business following an action of NDC MPs occupying the majority side of the Chamber.

Ayariga's observations brought out the increasing irritability in Parliament, with accusations and counter-accusations rising recently over what appeared to be an NPP project to make it easy for government business to sail through. The NDC MPs were present fully and ready to help advance government business, even though they are in opposition, he said. On the contrary, the NPP MPs, through their whip Alexander Afenyo-Markin, chose to leave the chamber and consequently caused the latest adjournment. Afenyo-Markin, Ayariga insinuated, was more concerned with his status as a former Majority Leader than attending to critical parliamentary business.

Matters started to get worse when Speaker Alban Bagbin, following a Supreme Court ruling staying his declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant, adjourned Parliament indefinitely. The processes are now left in limbo, but Ayariga argues that this is a case of a stalled process at the doorsteps of the NPP.

What Ayariga is saying, therefore, is that the opposition is ready to carry out its functions in Parliament, but what is stalling an otherwise avoidable delay in government business is some internal dynamics of the NPP and their unwillingness to engage. With public resources at stake, an ongoing political standoff by politicians continues to delay legislative progress, with citizens wondering when the business of governance will resume.