Dr Rasheed Draman, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, has cautioned that the current super-majority status of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament can pose a serious threat to Ghana’s democracy.
“Everywhere in the world, a majoritarian Parliament can be very tyrannical, if it goes unchecked, particularly when the majority side decides to follow directions at every stage.
Ghana’s democracy is not self-sustaining. In moments of political dominance, it becomes fragile,” Dr Draman noted.
Dr Draman made the remarks during a two-day capacity-building workshop for the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra.
The political analyst cited the July 11 re-run of the 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North constituency, which the NDC’s parliamentary candidate won, bringing the Party’s seats in Parliament to 184.
“The ruling NDC now has super-majority in Parliament with two-thirds members that can pass laws and take decisions without the Minority Caucus,” he added.
He indicated that though the situation was good for the ruling party but posed a serious risk to the country’s democracy.
The workshop, organised by the Media Relations Department of the Parliamentary Service, was held on the theme, “Enhancing the Image of Parliament through the Towering Role of the Media” which provided a platform for the Parliamentary Press Corps to reflect and re-assess their work towards improving national conversations.
Dr Draman stated that the current NDC’s super-majority in Parliament posed a risk to the country’s democracy because of “constitutional overreach”.
He noted “if the Majority Caucus want to amend the Constitution, they can do it…It’s only the anger of Ghanaians and education provided by journalists can aid to stop that process”.
Dr Draman stated that there was also the risk of the Majority passing bills into law without any debate, rubber stamping government policies and undermining independent voices like the civil society organisations and the media.
The political analyst, therefore, urged the media to be extra vigilant on the activities of the Majority Caucus and business of Parliament to avert potential tyranny under democracy.
Of the 276 seats in Parliament, the ruling NDC has 184 seats while the opposition NPP has 87 now following the sudden demise of the Akwatia MP Ernest Yaw Kumi with four independent legislators who are caucusing with the Majority NDC side.
GNA
