The opposition People’s National Convention (PNC) is worried the decision by the Minority in Parliament to boycott proceedings in solidarity with some colleague members is tantamount to causing financial loss to the state.
The PNC has, therefore, urged the Finance Minister to surcharge all members of the Minority on days they will be absent from the House.
This was contained in a statement issued by PNC’s General Secretary Janet Asana Nabla on Friday, July 7.
The statement said inasmuch as the Minority has every right to express support for any member, “the decision to boycott sitting due to criminal charges instituted by the republic against their colleague is worrying”.
The PNC attention has been drawn to the recent decision of the Minority in Parliament to boycott Parliamentary sitting in solidarity with the Gyekye Quayson’s perjury case. They have every right to express their support for their fellow MP in this trying times of the Legislator. However, the decision to boycott sitting due to criminal charges instituted by the republic against their colleague is worrying.
An opposition party which professes to believe in the rule of law is expected to have faith in the legal system of our nation where they held the reins of power some few years ago. The Minority Members in Parliament at this moment is causing financial loss to the state by abandoning their Parliamentary business to go to court to protest for their colleague. For how long will the Minority in Parliament continue this boycott of parliamentary sitting at the expense of the tax payer?
We expect them to do same for their respective constituents who are also facing criminal prosecution across the country. After all the constituents elected these legislators to represent them in parliament. Unless they want to tell Ghanaians that Members of Parliament comes first and the constituents interest is the least to be considered.
As legislators, we expect them to demonstrate their commitment to rule of law as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Politicization of criminal proceedings must not be encouraged at all levels if we seek to hold the tenet of rule of law.
We are appealing to Civil Society Organisations, the Peace Council, Academia, the Media and all well-meaning Ghanaians to call the Minority Members of Parliament to order. Additionally, we are urging the Finance Minister to ensure that the number of days they will use in protestation will be counted and a financial penalty would be taken from their salary.
