The main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the Speaker of Parliament Alban S. K. Bagbin of being “selective” and “autocratic” in the matter concerning the suspension of four MPs over the Thursday, January 30, 2025, chaos during the vetting of ministerial nominees.

In a statement dated February 3, 2025, signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP said it had “learnt with scorn that the Rt. Hon. Speaker on Friday 31st January 2025 unilaterally suspended three (3) of its Members of Parliament” namely: Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annor-Dompreh; MP for Gushiegu, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuuli; and MP for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib.

Bringing the number of suspended MPs to four was the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Chief Whip and MP for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamakpor.

The NPP argued “this selective, and autocratic posture of the Speaker” was “very dangerous”. 

It explained, Speaker Bagbin’s “actions” were “packaged to cow the Minority into submission, consequently weakening its potential to hold the government accountable”.

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THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE MINORITY CAUCUS IN PARLIAMENT.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has learnt with scorn that the Rt. Hon. Speaker on Friday 31st January 2025 unilaterally suspended three (3) of its Members of Parliament.

The Party sęes this selective, and autocratic posture of the Speaker as very dangerous, with all these actions packaged to cow the Minority into submission, consequently weakening its potential to hold the government accountable.

The Party calls on ALL, especially it's Hon. Members of Parliament, to be assured of the Party's unflinching support at all material times and fully supports the press conference of the Minority Caucus on 3rd February 2025 and its subsequent briefings.

In this spirit, the Party wishes to state that it does not accept the decision of the Speaker to suspend its Members; which is in flagrant disregard for the Constitution of the Republic and as well as the rules of Natural Justice.

The Party herby reiterates its position that it stands with its eighty-eight (88) gallant Hon. Members to address all forms of repression and unfairness in the application of the rules governing Parliament and the Nation.