BY VALENTIA TETTEH
The Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, says the Minority Caucus is preparing for what she described as “key battles” during the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament.
Speaking during a leadership engagement with the Parliamentary Press Corps, Madam Appiagyei accused the Majority side of sidelining parliamentary scrutiny through the excessive use of certificates of urgency to fast-track legislation.
According to her, about 33 bills were rushed through Parliament during the first meeting under certificates of urgency, a process she said should ordinarily be reserved for genuine national emergencies.
“The Minority considers this as an abuse of the democratic process and a violation of the spirit of parliamentary deliberations,” she stated.
Madam Appiagyei further criticized what she described as an “authoritarian” style of governance by the Majority Caucus, alleging that debates had often been cut short while critical amendments proposed by the Minority were rejected.
She also raised concerns over delays in the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill, despite what she described as strong bipartisan public support.
“The Minority finds this delay deeply troubling and will remain vigilant to ensure the bill is not quietly diluted or shelved,” she stressed.
Touching on governance and social services, the Asokwa MP said despite promises of a “national reset,” many challenges in education and healthcare remain unresolved.
She cited delays in the release of school feeding grants, inadequate teaching materials and persistent NHIS arrears as examples of what she described as weak service delivery.
On the economy, Madam Appiagyei acknowledged the recent decline in inflation to single digits but argued that many ordinary Ghanaians are yet to feel relief in their daily lives.
“Ghanaian families are yet to feel tangible relief in their daily lives. The Minority will continue to press for policies that will translate macroeconomic gains into real improvements in household incomes and market prices,” she noted.
The Deputy Minority Leader further expressed concern over rising youth unemployment, which she said currently stands at 34.4 percent.
She questioned the impact of some government youth employment initiatives and contrasted them with the previous administration’s One District, One Factory policy, which she said created sustainable jobs.
The Minority Caucus, she disclosed, will focus heavily on employment, taxation and legislative procedures during the current parliamentary meeting.
Madam Appiagyei warned that the Minority would fiercely resist any attempt by the government to introduce new taxes during the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review.
“We reiterate our firm position on no new taxes on an already burdened citizenry,” she declared.
She also cautioned the Majority against the continued use of certificates of urgency to fast-track bills without adequate scrutiny.
“We hereby put the Majority on notice. We will not tolerate another year of rampant and unjustified use of urgency certificates. If the practice continues, the Minority may seek judicial intervention,” she warned.
Despite the disagreements, Madam Appiagyei maintained that the Minority remains open to bipartisan collaboration on issues of national interest.
“Our record demonstrates that we oppose when necessary, but we also propose when necessary,” she added.
