The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), has urged the Minority Caucus to rethink its decision not to participate in parliamentary business any day the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson is to appear in court.

Dr Rasheed Draman says the decision will come along with certain challenges.

“So, I think there are a lot of challenges regarding this strategy, and they might have to think about it carefully before Ghanaians begin to get upset with the Minority that they’ve been elected to do business for the country, and they are not in the House to do the business,” he advised.

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Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, Rasheed Draman cautioned them to “ensure we don’t have a crippled House.”

This comes after the Minority Leader in Parliament served notice that all NDC MPs will not be in the House or participate in its business on any day the Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson is to appear in court.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said all the NDC MPs will accompany the embattled MP in court to show their support.

“I wish to serve notice that the entire minority group will accompany our colleague to court today and any other day that he is to appear in court.

“We are solidarising with our colleague, I urge the government to listen to the good people of Assin North and do the right thing,” he said.

In response, the Executive Director of ACEPA questioned why the Minority resorted to this strategy now and when the case began.

According to him, although it is their right to devise various strategies to press their demands, they must not lose sight of the reason they were elected to Parliament. 

Mr Draman said if all NDC MPs march to court in solidarity of their own, it would affect the quorum in Parliament.

“Much as you would play the role of holding the government to account, you don’t want a situation where this strategy will backfire…I don’t know whether Speaker can cite all the members of the Minority Caucus for absenting themselves and in that case be in breach of one of their Standing Orders.

“You can boycott Parliament when maybe there is an issue on the floor of the House for which you disagree. Walkouts are normal, but I don’t know about going to court in mass and leaving the business of Parliament,”he said.

According to Mr Draman, the only way out of this situation is for both leadership of the house to sit and talk over their issues to avoid the situation from exacerbating the current issues.