Deputy Majority Whip of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Habib Iddrisu, has condemned opposition National Democratic Congress MPs for abandoning their parliamentary duties to accompany their colleagues who are facing criminal charges in the courts.

The minority MPs on Thursday abandoned the proceedings of the house to solidarise with James Gyakye Quayson and Dr Cassiel Ato Forson over their respective criminal trials before the courts.

This, the Tolon MP said was wrong because these legislators have an obligation to represent the interest of the electorates in parliament and not to accompany people to court.

Speaking to the JoyNews, he said “ they were elected to come and sit in parliament, they were not elected to accompany people to court, their constituents should take note.”

Mr Iddrisu explained that during proceedings on June 6, some sector ministers were present in the house to answer questions about development projects undertaken in each constituency, however because some legislators were unavailable, the business of the day continued without them.

He stressed that he could not fathom the kind of democracy these MPs were practicing because the current one practiced in Ghana does not permit such conduct.

“I do not know what kind of democracy or parliamentary procedure this is but we are watching them keenly and the business of the day is done for now,” he added.

“If we as legislators are making laws and we expect the judiciary to implement it, now we are now telling them that Quayson is above any Ghanaian so they should actually call for all cases in court to be dropped but not only for a particular person.”

Minority abandon Parliament to solidarise with Gyakye Quayson and Ato Forson

In a press statement issued on Thursday July 6 by its Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agboza, the NDC MPs reiterated their resolve to boycott sittings anytime the cases involving their two colleagues are heard.

According to the caucus, they are united behind their colleagues who are going through unfair trials. 

About the respective cases

Dr Ato Forson is facing a criminal trial in relation to an alleged financial loss of €2.37 million to the state.

The case involves a deal to purchase 200 ambulances between 2014 and 2016 for the country.

The newly elected Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, is also facing a criminal trial at the High Court for charges of forgery and perjury.

He is also accused of deceiving a public officer and knowingly making a false declaration when he filed nominations to contest in the 2020 election when he had not renounced his Canadian citizenship.

However, he has filed a motion on notice at the High Court for a stay of proceedings, pending an appeal.