The 13 NPP MPs who nearly set Parliament on ‘Fire’ before the recess

As the stalemate over the controversial e-levy raged on without solution, one of the wisest counsel that Speaker Alban Bagbin gave was to refer the matter back to the Finance Committee of Parliament for further refitting and necessary adjustments. Indeed, onto the Finance Committee, the e-levy was relayed.

Before his departure for medical check-up in Dubai, the Speaker had firmly ruled that the 2022 budget presented by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta had been rejected by the House. This was after the majority staged a walk-out at the crucial stage of the budget approval. That was on a Friday.

The next day Saturday, the Speaker travels for his medical check-up in Dubai in the Gulf region and that very week-end, K.T. Hammond, the NPP MP for Adansi Asokwa, leads a counter rejection motion outside of Parliament and gave the firm assurance that the minority decision would be overturned by the majority on the Tuesday of the next sitting.

And presto, the majority did just that. What played out that day was just a replica of the circumstances that led to the earlier boycott by the majority. The majority’s counter move however, failed to resolve the impasse over the approval of the e-levy. Until his return from medical check-up abroad, the e-levy nuisance had virtually ravaged the professional and rational reasoning of MPs from both sides.

It was more compounded when acting Speaker, Joe Osei-Wusu tried albeit unsuccessful, to play both player and referee over the approval of the levy in the absence of substantive Speaker, the Rt. Hon Kingsford Sumanu Bagbin.

He refused to play neutrality when he assumed the House chair, claiming as deputy Speaker, he is liable to vote in a matter that requires a lot cast to determine a majority approval or otherwise. Speaker Bagbin returns; and it does seem sanity had prevailed or so it seemed.

And all two divides had no choice than to heed to the wise counsel of Speaker Bagbin that the e-levy be sent back to the committee stage. However, the majority MPs on the committee had other ideas.

It was at the committee level that they hatched a plot to push through the killer e-levy in its original form, and that resulted in the massive brawl, just before the House went on recess for the Christmas and New Year holidays.  The following are the NPP MPs who attempted the abortive killer e-levy approval.

Kweku Kwarteng: He is the MP for Obuasi West on the ticket of the NPP. He’s been in parliament for the past three terms. He was the deputy Finance Minister during the first term administration of President Akufo Addo’s government and he is currently, the chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament.

K.T. Hammond is one of the longest serving MPs in the House, perhaps only outdone by Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the Majority Leader. He entered parliament in 2001, under the administration of John Agyekum Kufuor. He was one-time deputy minister of Energy and a Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region.

Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu is the MP for Suame in the Ashanti Region. He is been in Parliament since 1996 serving in various capacities; both as Minority and Majority leader. He’s currently the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and the longest serving MP in the Ghanaian legislature.

Alexander Afenyo Markin is the MP Effutu in the Central Region and the deputy Majority Leader. He’s on the 3^rd leg of his Parliamentary duties. He is one of the young MPs who has risen so fast in the Parliamentary business of the House. Very vocal and always up to defend the cause of his party, even if not too pleasant to outsiders.

Kojo Oppong Nkrumah represents the people of Ofoase Ayerebi in Parliament. Although he is a lawyer, Kojo’s first call is Communication; having worked for Joy FM, one of the leading media brands in the country as the anchor of the station’s flagship programme—the Super Morning Show. He is also the Minister of Information.

Collins Adomako Mensah is the MP for Kwabre North in the Ashanti Region. He is one of the new faces in Parliament. Despite his relative newness, he has carved a rather fast niche for himself and that has contributed to his rise into the Majority caucus at the Finance Committee level.

Patrick Yaw Boamah is the Member of Parliament for Okai Koi Central in the Greater Accra Region. He is in his third term parliamentary duties and one of the Accra MPs that has made things thick for the NPP in the House. An unbridled supporter of both causes of the sitting President and the New Patriotic Party.

Frank Annor Dompreh is the Majority Chief Whip and the Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region. He is very vocal in the House, always at the forefront of pushing the parliamentary agenda of the majority in Parliament. Perhaps, that explains why he has risen so fast with the majority caucus in Parliament.

Kwame Anyimadu Antwi is the MP for Asante Akim Central and one of new faces in the House, but very robust in his dealing with the opposition minority. He would not trade the position of his party for anything, not even more than gold or diamond. A core NPP faithful who understands his partisanship standing in the Parliamentary chamber.

Nana Ayew Afriyie, MP, Effiduase Asokore is another freshest face in the majority NPP side of Parliament. Started his political activism as a member of some pressure groups that mounted pressure on the Mahama-led administration. Today, he is enjoying the fruits of his untiring efforts that resulted in the ouster of former President Mahama and his NDC.

Mohammed Amin Adam, MP, Karaga in the Northern Region. He made his political mark during President Kufuor’s time where he was made a deputy Minister. As energy expert, Hon Amin is a deputy Minister of Energy and one time DCE for Karaga.

Sheila Penelope Bartels is the daughter of NPP stalwarts Kwabena Bartels who monopolized the Ablekuma North seat in Parliament in the nineties through to the mid 2000s. Today, his daughter, Sheila has picked up from where Daddy left off, beating off strong challenge from other interested parties to the Ablekuma North seat to continue with the envious legacy of the elder Bartels.

Stephen Amoah is one of the freshest MPs representing the NPP at Nhyiaso in the Ashanti Region. He was once a communication team member of the NPP, although he still does represent the NPP though many communication channels like radio, television and others.     

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