Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has affirmed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not allow Members of Parliament from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to disrupt peace or create disorder in Ghana.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, October 22, Afenyo-Markin explained that the decision for NPP MPs to retreat to their offices that day was a strategic move to avoid confrontation and potential chaos, following a dispute over which party should occupy the Majority side of the Chamber.
Earlier in the day, NPP MPs vacated the Parliamentary Chamber after NDC MPs took over the Majority seats, escalating tensions rooted in Speaker Alban Bagbin’s October 17 ruling, which declared four parliamentary seats vacant. The NPP contested this ruling in the Supreme Court, which granted a stay of execution.
In his press conference, Afenyo-Markin accused the NDC of trying to provoke the NPP into a physical altercation to destabilize the country.
“We won’t give them [NDC] the opportunity to be lawless or disturb the peace of Ghana. Our decision to retreat was to prevent any form of chaos that they were trying to incite,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
The Majority Leader reiterated that the NPP would continue to act responsibly and await a directive from Speaker Alban Bagbin before taking any further action.
“NPP, our tradition is a law-abiding one. Our forebearers have always promoted peace. We will not give the NDC the lawlessness platform they seek. We care about the well-being of innocent Ghanaians, and while we understand politics, we will engage in it in a civil manner. The NPP is a peaceful party, and we will not allow anyone to disturb the peace of this country,” he concluded.