The Minority in Parliament have declared that they will abstain from all parliamentary business once their leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, is called upon to appear in court over the ongoing ambulance trial.
The reason for this decision is that on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, when the House resumed its third meeting of the fourth session, Dr. Ato Forson’s lawyers requested a leave of absence to attend significant parliamentary business, but Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, the presiding judge of the High Court, refused to grant their request.
The NDC MPs voiced their displeasure with the judge’s denial of Parliament’s previous request for Dr. Ato Forson to attend a vital Parliamentary Service Board meeting, among other legislative duties, in a press statement signed by Chief Whip Governs Agbodza.
The statement added that their decision comes on the back of the refusal of the presiding High Court judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe (Mrs), to grant a request from the lawyers of the Minority Leader for the leave of the court to enable him attend to important parliamentary business on Tuesday, 11th June, 2024 when the House resumes its third meeting of the fourth session.
“Today, as Parliament commences its third meeting of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament, the Minority Leader is expected to deliver a resumption address, join parliamentary leadership to engage the press and undertake other important activities, as part of his legislative mandate. These are part of very important parliamentary duties exclusively reserved for the leader of a Parliamentary Caucus at the commencement of a parliamentary meeting.
The NDC Minority Caucus has taken notice of this worrying trend that shows an attempt by the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, to prevent the Minority Leader from performing his constitutional duties as an elected Member of Parliament and the Leader of the Minority Caucus.
In the light of the above, and the continuous persecution of the Minority Leader, the NDC Minority will continue to solidarise and stand by its Leader anytime he is due to appear in court.
The NDC Minority Caucus further reserves the right to apply all other tools available to us in our approach to business on the floor,” excerpts of the statement read.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu
