"Win Elections, Don’t Manufacture Majorities" – Bawumia to NDC MPs

The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, who also serves as the presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has taken a swipe at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following the Supreme Court's order that stayed the execution of a controversial ruling by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin. The ruling had earlier declared four parliamentary seats vacant, causing a stir within the political landscape.

Addressing party supporters at Nkawkaw during his campaign tour of the Eastern Region, Dr. Bawumia didn't hold back in his critique of the opposition NDC. With the backdrop of an ongoing legal battle, he boldly mocked the NDC, saying that their recent attempt to secure a majority in Parliament was the "shortest-lived majority in history. majority, which lasted just 24 hours, due to the speaker’s ruling being swiftly overturned by the Supreme Court.

 But if you want the majority, come to the polling stations, win the election in your constituencies, and then head to Parliament. You can't just stay in Parliament and manufacture a majority for yourselves," Dr. Bawumia stated to loud cheers from the crowd.

Dr. Bawumia’s remarks come at a critical time in Ghanaian politics, where both the NPP and the NDC have been fiercely contesting not only for the presidency but also for control of Parliament. The case, which involves the fate of four NPP-held parliamentary seats, has become a hotbed of political tension. The NDC had been hoping to capitalize on the speaker's initial ruling that declared these seats vacant, a move that would have shifted the parliamentary balance in their favor. 

However, the Supreme Court's decision to stay the speaker’s ruling has, for now, kept the status quo intact, with the NPP retaining its parliamentary seats. This has brought relief to the governing party while leaving the opposition in frustration.

Dr. Bawumia used the opportunity to further energize his supporters ahead of the 2024 general elections. He emphasized that the power to win a majority does not lie in parliamentary maneuvering but in the hands of the people at the polling stations. “If the NDC wants to form a majority in Parliament, they must go through the proper democratic process—win the elections. Only then can they legitimately hold a majority,” he reiterated.

This confrontation between the NPP and the NDC has further fueled an already intense political rivalry. The next few weeks are expected to witness more heated exchanges as both parties prepare for upcoming by-elections and continue their respective campaigns for the 2024 elections.

Dr. Bawumia’s speech at Nkawkaw is just one of many stops in his ongoing tour of the Eastern Region, a stronghold for the NPP, where he hopes to solidify support and gain more momentum ahead of the national polls. The Vice President has been emphasizing themes of governance, development, and economic stability, portraying himself as the candidate capable of steering Ghana through its current economic challenges.

For the NDC, the next moves are crucial. With their parliamentary majority hopes momentarily dashed, they must now decide whether to contest the Supreme Court’s decision or regroup for the upcoming elections. In either case, Dr. Bawumia's message is clear: political power must be earned through the ballot box, not by procedural maneuvers in Parliament.