What NDC needs to do to secure two-thirds majority in parliament

With the EC proceeding with the new collation of results, the NPP has secured seven more parliamentary seats, which puts the NDC’s plans to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament in limbo.

This is how the 9th Parliament is shaping up with the Independents, NDC, and NPP seats won as of 21st December 2024:

Out of a total of 276 seats in the House:

• NPP: 89 seats (including seven newly declared today).
• NDC: 181 seats.
• Independents: 4 seats.
• Outstanding: 2 constituencies (Dome Kwabenya and Ablekuma North).

New additions for the NPP

The seven constituencies declared today were all won by the NPP, boosting its numbers from the initial 82 seats to 89. The constituencies include:

1. Obuasi East (Ashanti Region): Patrick Boakye-Yiadom retained his seat.
2. Nsawam-Adoagyiri (Eastern Region): Frank Annoh-Dompreh emerged victorious.
3. Tema Central (Greater Accra Region): Charles Forson narrowly won.
4. Ahafo Ano South West (Ashanti Region): Elvis Osei Dapaah secured the seat.
5. Ahafo Ano North (Ashanti Region): Nana Agyemang Prempeh triumphed.
6. Okaikwei Central (Greater Accra Region): Patrick Yaw Boamah retained his position.
7. Techiman South (Bono East Region): Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah won.

From the above breakdown, if the NDC is to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament, it must begin to lobby at least three of the independent candidates who made it to parliament to their side to collaborate on the floor of parliament.

While the NDC seeks to contest the results of the recollation, the party needs to do more to ensure that it brings many of the independent candidates into its fold.

The NDC must also use the laws breached by the EC in recollating results to pursue the issue in court, aiming to organically increase its seats from the current 181 to at least 184 out of the 276 seats in parliament.

At the time of filing this report, the EC has not been able to declare Dome Kwabenya and Ablekuma North.

According to the EC, the reason for the failure to recollect the results was missing pink sheets for three polling stations. The NDC and NPP were also unable to provide their copies to the EC. The NPP blamed the missing pink sheets on the disruption of electoral materials at the collation centre.

In the case of Ablekuma North, 31 pink sheets are missing, making recollation impossible and forcing the EC to defer the process.

The EC is set to decide on a course of action for the outstanding constituencies. Meanwhile, NPP’s Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for unity and urged the NDC to accept the outcome of today’s exercise in the interest of democracy.

The NDC two-thirds majority in parliament will go along way to help the party work effectively with less hindirance.