New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) have been told to up their game and engage in quality and responsible debates if they want their views respected and heard in the 9th Parliament.
This, a law Professor at the University of Ghana, Kwame Gyan has said, will be one of the major means of putting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in check and stop them from abusing power.
“Yes, decision making in Parliament will be faster and smoother but the small minority can make their voices heard if their quality is on the high side. The NDC will use their majority to out vote you but win the debate on superior argument and that will force the majority to think through the opinions the minority propagated…,” he said.
The NDC recorded an overwhelming majority of seats in the 2024 elections with the NPP recording a little below 90 seats in the 276 chamber.
Some have argued that this high numbers will not only help President Mahama have decisions taken quickly in the august house but will also help him amend certain entrenched clauses that could make him stay in power for more than his mandated four years.
“Some people have approached me asking if President Mahama will amend the Constitution so he can stay in power for a much longer time but what we must know is that there are certain things that one will never try doing even as President…,” he added.
Lawyer Kwame Gyan further opined that ‘President John Mahama is not the kind of man who will pursue some constitutional reforms that will soil his image.’
“The Constitution is not cast in stone but a living document that needs to be amended where necessary but we shouldn’t touch certain entrench clauses that will throw the country into chaos…,” he said.
