The First Deputy Chief Majority Whip in Parliament, Habib Iddrisu, has criticised the Minority Caucus for urging the Speaker of Parliament to reject a recall request initiated by Members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, November 26, Mr. Iddrisu stated that the Minority has no authority to dictate parliamentary proceedings, as government business is under the purview of the Majority Leader.

“There is no precedent where the Minority counters a Majority request for the Speaker to reconvene Parliament. Who is the head of government business? If the Majority Leader deems it necessary to conduct government business, so be it. It is not left to the Minority to determine whether the business is serious or not.”

• Read also: ‘NDC Majority Caucus’ urges Speaker to reject NPP MPs’ recall request

The Minority Caucus, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, submitted a memo on November 25 urging Speaker Alban Bagbin to reject the NPP’s recall request. They argued that the request did not meet constitutional and procedural requirements outlined in Article 112(3) and Standing Order 53(1) of Parliament.

Dr. Forson contended that the Speaker has the discretion to approve or reject the recall and claimed that the NPP’s request lacked compelling reasons.

However, Mr. Iddrisu dismissed the memo as “out of place,” suggesting that it reflects a lack of understanding of parliamentary processes.

He criticized Dr. Forson for referring to himself as the Majority Leader, despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming the NPP’s majority status in Parliament.

Mr. Iddrisu accused the Minority of having the tendency to disrupt Parliament, to bring confusion and disrupting the rule of law.

He also questioned their priorities, asking, “Are the NDC MPs suggesting we should not pay salaries to workers in December?”

He stressed that the recall request was initiated to address important government business and not based on previous absences of NPP MPs in Parliament.