Patrick Boamah Appeals To Minority To Reconsider Boycott Decision

The Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central in the Greater Accra region, Patrick Yaw Boamah has made a passionate appeal to the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) to reconsider its decision of boycotting parliamentary business on days three of their members appear in court.

According to him even though he agrees with the minority who are exercising their right under the laws of the country, they should be measured in what they do since they also have an equal responsibility to represent their constituents who elected them.

This comes after the NDC MPs for the second time abstained from participating in parliamentary business in solidarity with their colleague Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson who’s facing a criminal trial on charges of forgery, perjury and deceit of a public officer about the renunciation of his Canadian citizenship.

In a show of solidarity, the entire minority caucus has resolved to always accompany Mr Quayson to court on his trial days.

The caucus on the day of the swearing-in of the Assin North lawmaker announced that it will abandon business in the chamber any day their three members facing what they described as persecution by the Akufo-Addo government.

The two other minority MPs facing trials are Minority leader and and MP for Ajumako-Enyan Esiam, Dr Casiel Ato Forson and MP for Asutifi South, Collins Dauda.

Reacting to this development, Mr Boamah said the absence of the Minority from the chamber had negatively impacted the business of the house.

“The impact of the absence of the Minority in the chamber. We all know the contribution of the Minority when it comes to the business on the floor. It is a very important caucus in our parliamentary business. So any decision by the Minority not to take part actively in the business of the House, it will definitely affect proceedings.”

“It is a very unfortunate situation that we are going through. The Minority is exercising its right under the laws to go and solidarize with our colleague, Quayson who was sworn in a week ago.

I want to entreat the Minority to reconsider their decision because Hon. Quayson is duly represented by very experienced lawyers who can fight his case for him.”

“It is very important that we also get measured with what we do with regard to our responsibilities as Members of Parliament. As duty demands of us, we ought to be in the chamber to represent the people who voted for us.”

“Yes, you can show solidarity but you should not forget about your responsibility as a Member of Parliament.

It’s a right; it’s a caucus decision and a party decision, and I respect that. But I am entreating them. There ought to be a limit to what they do, especially when we have a business on the floor to partake in,” Patrick Boamah added.