GFL Secretary General slams Minority over 'drama' in Parliament

Mr Abraham Koomson, Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), on Tuesday criticised the posture of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) “Micro Minority" in Parliament, accusing the caucus of prioritising public showmanship over substantive legislative work on critical bills.

Speaking in Tema on the processes leading to the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill (LGBTQ+) and the Public Tribunal Bill, Mr Koomson said Parliament’s primary duty is lawmaking and representation, not staged confrontation.

He expressed concern that the “micro minority's" current approach was undermining the consultative and technical nature of lawmaking and explained that Ghana’s legislative process is designed to be inclusive and progressive from the outset.

“The processes of passing a bill take into consideration stakeholders’ views, especially during the consideration stages at the relevant committees where memoranda are invited from all stakeholders and the public,” he said.

Mr Koomson noted that even after committee deliberations, there are further opportunities for input. At first reading, the Speaker advertises and considers amendments before the bill moves to the next stage.

“During the second reading, MPs, by the standing orders of parliament, are not allowed to introduce new subjects which would generate debate.

"But unfortunately, the 'Micro Minority', through its leader Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, in these two instances waits during the second reading and attempts to introduce new subjects characterised by drama, sometimes drawing the Speaker into the debate just for the public showmanship.”

The GFL Secretary General questioned the timing of the Minority’s objections to key pieces of legislation during the second reading.

“Where were the minority members of the relevant committees during the deliberations?" he asked. “The Minority leadership continues to sleep on duty in Parliament and only wakes up to stage public drama.”

"Where was the 'Micro Minority' during the various stages of the Public Tribunals Bill? Where were those who are opposing it now when the public was invited to submit proposals and memoranda?" Mr Koomson asked.

The implication, he said, is that opposition expressed late in the process risks appearing political rather than principle-based, especially when formal channels for input were available and used by other stakeholders, including labour, civil society, and industry groups.

Mr Koomson also considers Mr Afenyo-Markin's admission during the second reading of the Public Tribunals Bill that his submissions were somehow more political than legal deeply disturbing and warns that the pattern of late-stage confrontation has broader consequences for governance.

"When debate is shifted from committee rooms to the chamber floor for effect, critical bills on the economy, labour, security and social protection face unnecessary delays. It also discourages stakeholders who commit time to submit technical memoranda during the consultation phase.

“A progressive Parliament requires early, evidence-based contestation followed by disciplined, principle-based debate. Citizens expect Parliament to solve problems, not to turn lawmaking into theatre,” Mr Koomson stressed.

The GFL Secretary General called on all parliamentary caucuses to recommit to the full legislative cycle, stressing that opposing government policies and pragmatic bills by the opposition is a normal parliamentary practice, but it must be more than focusing on national interest instead of political interest and largely just on entertaining the public.

He urged the Majority to watch carefully the dramatic performance of the 'Micro Minority' and to resource its members for consistent participation in committees and respect standing orders during parliamentary proceedings to disarm the NPP on the floor of Parliament.

Mr Koomson also advised the Majority to always ensure that they form a quorum, especially during the deliberations of major government policies, as the “micro minority" is looking for opportunities to embarrass the majority and government.

“Disagreement is legitimate in democracy and in parliamentary proceedings, but it must be done to ensure the nation benefits from pragmatic laws.

“NPP and its micro minority's opposition to these two bills are political to ensure that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not be able to fulfil its manifesto promises based on which they received massive votes in Election 2024.

“Ghanaians deserve laws that are fought for in drafting rooms, not only on television,” Mr Koomson emphasised.

Parliament is expected to consider several critical bills in the current meeting, and labour groups say they will monitor both the substance of the bill, the legislation process, and the conduct of debate around it.