Is the Four independent MPs’ decision to join the NDC Majority Caucus a genuine alliance or an alliance with benefits?

The poor, they say have no friends but the rich have many friends seem to play in Ghana’s ninth Parliament under the Fourth Republic as all the four independent Members of Parliament (MPs) have announced their decision to conduct business with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority Caucus.

The four independent MPs are: MP for Gomoa Central, Mr. Kwame Asare Obeng aka Kwame A Plus, MP for Asante Akim North, Mr. Ohene Kwame Frimpong, Nandaya Yaw Stanley -MP for Wulensi, and MP for Afram Plains North, Worlasi Kpeli.

The MP for Asante Akim North made his stance to do business with the ruling NDC side known on TV long before he was sworn into office.

For me, it didn’t come as a surprise and it shouldn’t come to anyone as a surprise that all the four independent MPs have decided to dine with the NDC Majority Caucus if you are familiar with ‘The poor has no friend” a reference to Proverbs 19:7.

What most people tend to forget is that individuals, or groups of people in their normal day-to-day affairs pitch camp with what they can benefit from. They always want to connect with well-known influencers in society.

Most people do not just associate with groups or individuals because they genuinely love them. No, they are hanging around them because of what they are benefiting or will benefit from their association with such people or groups.

As it stands now what can the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its minority caucus in Parliament offer those four independent MPs when they joined them? Your guess is as good as mine.

A clear example of pitching for personal gains is that of the then independent Member of Parliament for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti region, Mr. Andrew Amoako Asiamah during the 8^th Parliament.

Mr. Amoako Asiamah’s decision to align with the NPP side, thus making them the slim majority side in a near-hung Parliament was not without a prize. The NPP paid heavily for his inclusion. First, the NPP had to sacrifice its constituency chairperson and other key executives to satisfy him. Again he was on 7 January 2021, elected as the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament while the party reserved the 2024 sole parliament slot for him. So you see nothing comes easy.

The list of independent MPs who pitched camp with the ruling government’s side (Majority) for personal gains is endless.

Knowing the history and how independent MPs have behaved and acted during their tenure at the Legislative House, it came as no surprise to me when Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Majority Leader, announced on the floor of the House on Wednesday, January 8, 202,5 that all the four independent MPs have made a decision to do business with the NDC.

The Majority Leader, further indicated that even though all four independent MPs have confirmed their stance, only Kwame Asare Obeng aka Kwame Aplus, the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, has officially communicated his decision to the Majority Caucus.

According to him the remaining three MPs, Ohene Kwame Frimpong (MP for Asante Akim North), Nandaya Yaw Stanley (MP for Wulensi), and Worlasi Kpeli (MP for Afram Plains North), have been directed to formally notify the Majority Caucus and the Speaker of their decision for validation.

“Currently, we have received letters from all four of them. So, Mr. Speaker, we’ll wait for them to officially write to you. Mr. Speaker, my attention is that so far the MP for Gomoa Central has written to us, but the rest are yet to write officially to confirm their positions,” he stated.

As Kwame A-Plus and Ohene Kwame Frimpong have already indicated in their earlier interviews, they want development for their constituents and so they will on any day pitch camp with people or groups of people who can help them fulfill their electoral promises. And so it is only right at this time to join the NDC side in Parliament which government is power.

Article by: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH