The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has alleged that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) is pursuing what he calls a “pre-advertised agenda” aimed at removing key constitutional officeholders and securing a numerical advantage in Parliament to enable the passage of major amendments.
His remarks follow Tuesday’s chaotic scenes in Parliament, where Minority MPs disrupted proceedings in protest of a letter from the Clerk to Parliament declaring the Kpandai parliamentary seat vacant.
The December 4 letter, addressed to Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Jean Mensa, referenced a High Court directive for a rerun of the constituency’s election.
Dressed in black, Minority MPs halted proceedings by chanting patriotic songs, banging desks and hooting at Clerk Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror.
They insisted the Clerk’s action was unlawful and demanded its withdrawal. Speaker Alban Bagbin subsequently suspended the sitting after Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga was repeatedly obstructed from addressing the House.
Speaking to reporters after the suspension, Oppong Nkrumah compared the current tensions to events surrounding the removal of former EC Chairperson Charlotte Osei.
He noted, however, that her departure was the result of internal petitions between her and her deputies not political machinations.
“In that instance, Madam Charlotte Osei petitioned for the removal of her deputies, and they counter-petitioned her. The outcomes of those processes led to her exit. There was no pre-advertised agenda to remove her,” he stated.
He argued that the current administration is, however, engaged in a coordinated campaign to remove the Chief Justice and destabilize the Electoral Commission leadership under the guise of administrative procedure.
“There is a pre-advertised agenda to get rid of the EC Commissioner and her deputies. It is being rolled out under the excuse of procedure,” he said, warning that the broader goal is to gain overwhelming control of Parliament to pass constitutional amendments.
Oppong Nkrumah urged the Speaker not to succumb to pressure to declare the Kpandai seat vacant, insisting the matter had already been settled.
“No amount of pressure should compel him to make that declaration,” he stressed, calling on legislators to remain vigilant against any attempts to manipulate parliamentary numbers.
