News:
August 25, 2026
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has issued a stern caution to Members of Parliament against using the floor of the House to interfere with the work of the judiciary, warning that such actions risk undermining the independence of a co-equal branch of government.
Mr. Ayariga’s admonition came on Monday during the commencement of a five-day emergency sitting, directly responding to concerns raised earlier by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Mr. Afenyo-Markin had expressed unease over court sittings during the legal vacation, which he alleged were being strategically used to prosecute members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Without delving into the specifics of the Minority Leader’s allegations, Mr. Ayariga rebuffed the notion that expedited court proceedings should be a source of complaint.
“I will not comment on that, except to say that if I were an accused person before a court, and the judge says that he will not go on vacation, he will spend time and dispose of my matter expeditiously, I will be the happiest person,” the Majority Leader stated.
He argued that any accused individual who maintains their innocence ought to welcome a judge’s decision to prioritize their case. “Every accused person who believes that he or she has not committed an offense wants the judge to expeditiously consider their matter, so that they can rest assured that they are not working with a court prosecution hanging over their head,” he added.
Mr. Ayariga expressed surprise that a decision by a judge to cancel their leave in the interest of swift justice had become a subject of protest within the parliamentary chamber.
Nevertheless, the Majority Leader refrained from making further substantive comments on the judicial process, emphasizing his commitment to preserving the separation of powers. “As I indicated, I don’t want to interfere in the work of the judiciary, because I think that it is undermining the independence and autonomy of a coordinate branch of government,” he concluded.
The emergency parliamentary session continues, with the House expected to tackle urgent national business over the coming days.
Ghanamps.com