Minority walks out as Lydia Alhassan is sworn in as MP

MPs wak out on swearing-in of Lydia Alhassan

The Minority in Parliament has walked out of the House as Lydia Alhassan has been sworn in as MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency Tuesday morning.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentarians say they do not want to be associated with the process.

Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, told the House their walking out is in solidarity with the victims of the violence that occurred at the La Bawaleshie polling centre on the voting day, Joy News’ Joseph Opoku Gakpo reported.

“…in to support our comrades and citizens that were unnecessarily hurt and brutally assaulted, I am sorry to say that with your indulgence, our side of the house cannot be here to witness this swearing in,” he said amid cheers from his colleague Minority MPs.

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, however, went ahead and sworn Mrs. Alhassan into office.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Adwoa Sarfo expressed her disappointment at the stance of the Minority, saying that the swearing in was in line with the Constitution of Ghana.

“…we will not be perturbed by the absence of the other side. Business will continue as usual,” she said amid cheers from the Majority.

She added that the House will continue with the business for the day.

Meanwhile, the Minority members of the House walked out and headed to the police station to demand for what they describe as brutalities against NDC supporters.

Why is the Minority protesting?

On January 31, 2019 electorates in the over 130 polling centres in the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency in Accra voted to elect a new MP Lydia Alhassan to replace Emmanuel Agyarko who died in November 2018.

However, a few hours into the election, armed men stormed the residence of NDC candidate, Delali Kwesi Brempong and engaged in a shooting spree.

The violence escalated to the La Bawaleshie polling centre close by and the NDC withdrew their agents from all the other 130 polling centres, citing intimidation.

They have called on the EC to annul the results. The EC however, described the electoral process as peaceful save the incident as La Bawaleshie.

President Akufo-Addo has also condemned the incident but described it as an isolated case of violence.

In a twist however, Minister of State in charge of National Security, Bryan Acheampong, said the men were National Security operatives who were acting on intelligence although he said he was not at liberty to reveal what they were after.