Author: Enestina GhanaMPs

Tensions high as Ghana’s democracy face another test Ghana’s democracy will come under intense scrutiny today, Tuesday, October 2024 when parliament resumes after the Supreme Court’s ruling setting aside Speaker Bagbin’s declaration of four seats vacant.

Since Friday, there had been some uneasy atmosphere in the country following the decision of the Supreme Court.

Public opinion about the Supreme Court’s ruling has not been favourable to the Apex Court of the land with many criticizing them for setting the stage for chaos, mostly because many believe they do not have jurisdiction over what they did.

Will it be a show of power play or there will be some compromise? It is unclear what today’s sitting holds as there is no sign any of the sides in parliament is ready to engage.

With both sides taking entrenched position of being in the Majority in parliament, the whole country is looking up to the decision of the Speaker to settle matters.

Will the Hon. Speaker bow to the directive from the Supreme Court, or will he affirm his earlier ruling that declared the four seats vacant?

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Service having gaged the atmosphere of the country, has tightened security at the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre, where parliament currently conducts sittings following ongoing renovation works.

Ghanamps.com

The Parliamentary Service has issued statement detailing security measures for Tuesday, October 22, 2024 proceedings in parliament.

The measure according to the Parliamentary Service is to ensure the safety and security of the Hon. Speaker, Members of Parliament, staff and the media who would be allowed into the chamber.

Read below the full directive from the Parliamentary Service.

Ghanamps.com

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus in Parliament has said the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin’s ruling is dangerous and unprecedented threatening the very foundation of the nation’s constitutional democracy.

In a statement, they pointed out that, the ruling attempts to unconstitutionally reconfigure the composition of Parliament, potentially shifting the balance of power of the House through, extra-legal means.

Whiles the ruling affects members from both sides of the aisle; it disproportionately impacts the Majority, raising serious questions about its impartiality and motivations.

The statement further pointed out that, the speaker’s action constitutes a clear usurpation of powers vested in the Supreme Court of Ghana under article 2(1) and 130 of the 1992 constitution.

As the provision explicitly empower the Supreme Court with the authority to interpret and enforce constitutional matters and the speakers action contravene Article 99 (1) of the constitution, which vests the High court with jurisdiction to determine questions of parliamentary membership validity.

By pre-emptively ruling on the issue, the Speaker has egregiously undermined the separation of powers that is fundamental to Ghana’s democracy.

The statement also described as troubling the fact that the Speaker proceeded with the ruling despite being fully aware that the matter of the meaning and effect of Article 94 (1) (g) was pending before the Supreme Court.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

In a rather unexpected turn of events, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in parliament has become the Majority with barely two months to the 2024 general elections.

This is due to the declaration of four (4) parliamentary seats vacant by the Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin on Thursday, October 17, 2024 in a ruling of a petition brought before him by Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South following some four MPs filing nominations to contest the upcoming elections on different tickets other than the one that brought them to parliament.

With the NDC having lost only one of their members in the vacant seat declaration and the NPP losing three members, the NDC Minority now has the Numerical advantage of 136 from their initial 137 as against NPP’s 135 from the initial 138 members.

More so, the NDC would again have the opportunity to elect the second Deputy Speaker; a position that has also become vacant since the occupant of the position, Hon. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, MP for Fomena Constituency, Ashanti Region (Independent) has been a victim of the vacant seat declaration.

Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Majority has described the ruling as an unconstitutional conduct by the Speaker and are waiting for the Supreme Court ruling, hoping to regain their Majority status in the House.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

The New Patriotic Party that until Thursday October 17, 2024 controlled parliament as the Majority with the support of the only independent Member of Parliament has refused to accept their ordeal of becoming the Minority.

The current fate of the ruling party was occasioned by Thursday’s ruling of the Speaker on the petition brought before him by Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale South urging the Speaker to declare some seats vacant.

The Speaker affirmed the request and declared the four seats;

1. Hon. Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, MP for Amenfi Central Constituency, Western Region (NDC)

2. Hon. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, MP for Fomena Constituency, Ashanti Region (Independent)

3. Hon. Kwadjo Asante, MP for Suhum Constituency, Eastern Region (NPP)

4. Hon. Cynthia Morrison, MP for Agona West Constituency, Central Region (NPP) vacant.

Unfortunately, the NPP would have none of this as they vowed to use every legal means possible to have the decision of the Speaker annulled.

The NPP in parliament in a statement after the ruling accused the Speaker of playing into the broader agenda to alter the numbers and give the NDC the upper hand to control the House.

This, they said was evident in the hasty manner Dr. Ato Forson, the Minority Leader proclaimed their NDC’s Majority status at the beginning of this meeting.

” The ruling, in effect attempts to unconstitutionally reconfigure the composition of parliament, potentially shifting the balance of power in the House through extra-legal means. It is worth noting that while the ruling affects members from both sides of the aisle, it disproportionally impacts the Majority, raising serious questions about its impartiality and motivations”.

As such the Majority has declared that they will “take every lawful action necessary to resist and defeat this unconstitutional conduct by the Speaker. We are committed to taking all steps required to restore the constitutional order that has been sought to be subverted in Parliament”.

Additionally, they called upon the Supreme Court to hear and determine the case brought before it by the Majority Leader with the utmost urgency; stating that the stability of our democracy and the integrity of our parliamentary processes hang in the balance due to the Speaker’s unconstitutional conduct.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

The Parliament of Ghana resumes today, October 15, 2024 for the fifth meeting of the eighth parliament.

The legislature would conduct their business at the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) as a temporal location following ongoing renovation works at the main chamber.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin earlier in September notified the Members of Parliament of the official reconvening, thus they were prepared for this even though most of them have been busy campaigning for the upcoming elections.

Ghanamps.com

Hon. Dakoa Newman among few female MPs is the Member of Parliament for the Okaikwei South Constituency.

Hon. Mavis Nkansah Boadu is the first female elected to the Afigya Sekyere Parliamentary seat since 1992.

 

Hon. Adelaide Ntim makes parliamentary debut as MP for Nsuta Kwaman Beposo in 2021.

 

The Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda Constituency, who also serves as a Deputy Minister for Health, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, officially filed his nomination today to contest as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Akyem Oda in the 2024 general elections.

The sitting MP expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to serve his constituency once again.
In a statement, Mr. Acquah highlighted his dedication to addressing the concerns of the people and continuing the development work he has championed since being elected in 2020.

He emphasized his commitment to creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and enhancing education and healthcare services in the constituency.

“My vision for Akyem Oda is one of prosperity, growth, and development,” he said, adding that economic empowerment will also be a key focus of his campaign.

He assured constituents of a clean and positive campaign, centered on the issue.

Ghanamps.com/Nana Keseh