A dramatic showdown unfolded in Parliament on Friday as the Majority opposed a statement by Akwatia MP, Ernest Yaw Kumi, citing his conviction for contempt by the Koforidua High Court.
However, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has come out in defense of Kumi, accusing the Majority of attempting to undermine the democratic process.
Addressing a press conference, Afenyo-Markin explained that the Majority’s actions resulted in disruption, confusion, and unusual noise-making in Parliament.
“Resulted in disruption, confusion, and the unusual noise-making. The practice is that when you make your argument, you sit quietly and allow… your colleague opposite to also make his argument,” Afenyo-Markin stated, describing the chaos that erupted in Parliament.
He continued, “But what did we see? The majority chief whip interrupted me. And when they realized again that their arguments before the House, those arguments were being defeated, the majority leader himself now got up and shouted, Mr. Speaker, again.”
Afenyo-Markin criticized the NDC’s stance, saying, “We saw what happened. This is a kind of democracy the NDC wants to practice in Parliament. Today, the NDC is saying that members of Parliament should respect the courts.”
He further emphasized, “These were the people who were insulting, using unprintable words, just because they disagreed. They disagreed with the Supreme Court’s ruling in October 2024. We are decent Democrats. It’s the reason why we have resorted to lawful processes in addressing our dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Koforidua High Court judge.”
Afenyo-Markin also highlighted the inconsistencies in the court’s decision, stating, “I believe earlier in the week, my colleague Jerry Ahmed led a press conference and actually shared with you a chronology of events and a chronology of processes filed at the Supreme Court, as well as a very high court. I would rely on saying without wasting your time.”
He explained, “But just to briefly put it, when there was an application pending before the court, which application sought to stay proceedings, any fair judge will want to determine that stay of proceedings application before going ahead to hear the substantive matter. The court ignored the stay of proceedings.”
Afenyo-Markin also revealed, “On the day in question, Mr. Kumi had written to the court for permission. The court again ignored it. As we speak, no court process has been served on Mr. Kumi. Neither has any process been served on the Speaker of Parliament, nor the Clerk.”
He emphasized, “I am the leader of our side. I haven’t been invited into a meeting where I have been told that a process has been served. So, I don’t know what the NDC is up to.”
Afenyo-Markin noted, “Again, upon hearing of the decision of the court, Mr. Kumi calls his lawyers to file an appeal and follow the court’s decision. Mr. Kumi calls his lawyers to file an appeal and follow the court’s decision… it is trite knowledge that once a stay of execution process has been filed, the court would have to determine it. So, what are we talking about here?”
He also pointed out, “Meanwhile, there is another process before the Supreme Court praying the court to make an order of prohibition to crush the earlier orders of the courts. Isn’t it also trite that after the loss of election, when an election result is declared, the outcome of an election is gazetted after the declaration, and the next stage is the Gazette?”
Afenyo-Markin emphasized, “It is only upon Gazette that an aggrieved party may have to file a process in court, petitioning the court and challenging the outcome of the election, and this is supposed to be done within 21 days.”
He criticized the court’s decision, stating, “The so-called application, which was found by the opponent of Mr. Kumi, was not an election petition.
“Meanwhile, the court claimed that it had taken judicial notice of a press conference of the EC to the effect that the results have been gazetted, so it is going ahead to treat it as an election petition” he added.
Afenyo-Markin concluded, “Now if you’re treating it as an election petition, you have to make a preliminary determination, which is the security for costs. All these things have not been done. We wonder why the judge will go on the path he has chosen to go, but as law-abiding citizens, we will continue to use the judicial processes for justice.”
He warned the NDC, saying, “For the NDC, if they think that today they are using Ernest Kumi to do politics, today is Friday, we are reminding them that next week, Thursday, the president will be coming to the chamber. The President… are reminding them they have forgotten that they are in government.”
Afenyo-Markin emphasized, “We are reminding the NDC, so if even today, they are the avant-garde of the rule of law. There are other matters of social justice in the country that perhaps they have overlooked.
He emphasized that the practice in Parliament is for members to make their arguments and then sit quietly, allowing their colleagues to respond.
However, in this case, the Majority Chief Whip interrupted him, and when they realized their arguments were being defeated, the Majority Leader shouted for the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings.
The controversy surrounding Ernest Yaw Kumi’s election as MP for Akwatia began when an interim injunction was issued, prohibiting him from taking office.
However, Ernest Yaw Kumi disregarded the court order and was subsequently sworn in as an MP, leading to his conviction for contempt.
The court withheld sentencing due to his absence and issued a bench warrant for his arrest..
In conclusion, Afenyo-Markin thanked the NDC Majority for forcing an adjournment, stating that the Minority will continue to defend Ernest Yaw Kumi and uphold the democratic process in Parliament.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
