Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has taken a lighthearted jab at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus following the swearing-in of Members of Parliament for Akwatia and Tamale Central.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, he said, the recent by-elections in Akwatia, Tamale Central, and Ablekuma have completed the full composition of the House, but have also further reduced the NPP’s numerical strength.

“With these two elections — Akwatia and Tamale Central and the one that took place in Ablekuma, this House is now fully constituted.

“The independent members of this House remain four. The NPP, which previously had a micro minority of 88, has seen its number shrink further to 87,” Mr. Ayariga said, drawing laughter from the chamber.

He added humorously, “Mr. Speaker, I believe they are no longer a micro minority, but a minuscule minority. ‘Micro’ could actually represent a large number because it’s a unit of measurement — one million can be micro when you are evaluating one billion. In English, when you want to describe something very small, you say minuscule.”

The Majority Leader went on to emphasise the growing numerical strength of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus, noting that with the support of the four independent MPs, the party now commands a “super majority.”

“The NDC super majority will balloon to 185 when we add our numbers to the four independents who have agreed to do business with us,” he said with a smile.

“The NDC will become a gargantuan majority. All I can say is, Mr. Speaker, so far, so excellent.”