Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has assured Ghanaians that the ongoing standoff in Parliament does not amount to a constitutional crisis.
This assurance comes after a recent Supreme Court ruling dismissed his attempt to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
Mr. Bagbin, addressing the media in Accra on Wednesday emphasized that the matter remains firmly under constitutional control.
He said there’s no constitutional crisis in this country adding that the impasse reflects what he sees as a coordinated effort between the Executive and Judiciary to diminish Parliament’s authority.
He opined that the verdict of the people through the 2020 election was to see a collaborative parliament which was built on a consensus in the national interest
“I also believe in a vibrant parliament that is respected and accorded its due on political questions as long established by law and decided cases. A parliament that understands reflects and embodies the will of the people and defends its constitutional prerogatives only works in the interest of Ghana and Ghanaians,” he continued.
He called on members of parliament to help strengthen parliament by ensuring issues are handled in the house and not by the other arms of government.
He intimated that parliamentarians who are to be loyal to parliament rather than to the Supreme Court run to the Supreme Court at the slightest opportunity to use the Supreme Court to undermine parliament.
To him, “this might be one of the reasons parliament and the members of parliament are not respected and treated with disdain.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Bagbin has directed the Clerk of Parliament to re-submit the anti-LGBT Bill 2023 to the President for assent or otherwise.
The Clerk had earlier attempted to transmit the Bill to the President for assent but the Presidency rejected it citing a pending case at the Supreme Court on the legality of the Bill
Mr Bagbin urged the Supreme Court to expedite the handling of the pending case and urged the court to use the same speed on the case as the way it was handling the application for interpretation of Article 97 on when a seat can be declared vacant in Parliament.
He therefore underscored his commitment to reinforcing the authority and integrity of Ghana’s Parliament amid recent tensions over the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
Mr. Bagbin stated that his primary focus as a Speaker is to leave behind a more resilient and effective legislative body.
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Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
