The Minority Caucus in Parliament is not backing down on its quest to hold a secret ballot to decide the fate of President Akufo-Addo’s recent ministerial nominees.

According to the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, his faction will not relent until the House conducts the secret ballot.

"We the NDC are ready for the secret ballot," he said.

Dr Forson made the remarks during a press conference in Parliament on Friday, March 24, 2023, after a brief suspension of sittings following the failure of both factions (Majority and Minority Caucuses) to reach a consensus on the approval of the six nominees.

Parliament was in a state of disarray on Friday, March 24, 2023, after Speaker Alban Bagbin briefly suspended the voting of President Akufo-Addo’s ministerial nominees.

The House agreed to decide the fate of seven candidates today. During the debate on a secret balloting, the Majority and Minority side clashed as the former sought to reschedule the meeting due to their numbers.

The Minority would not have it and tried to convince the Speaker. This resulted in disorder as MPs shouted on top of their voices – an action that prompted the presence of the Marshalls.

Unable to obtain decorum, the Speaker suspended the sitting briefly.

It was during the break that Dr Ato Forson held a press conference to call his colleagues from the Majority to return to the House for the secret ballot to be conducted.

Addressing the presser Dr to Forson insisted his side will ensure, through the secret ballot that, the wishes of Ghanaians regarding the approval are well represented.

"Unfortunately the NPP seems panicking . They are afraid of their own shadows and they are trying to run away from the votes. We insist on secret balloting and we will vote accordingly. We are optimist because we strongly believe the NDC Minority Caucus will not betray the stance of the party and the stance that the people of Ghana. So we are urging our colleagues on the Majority side to come to the chamber so that we can start the voting," he said.

Source: The Independent Ghana