Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, has declared that the current parliamentary deadlock does not represent a constitutional crisis. Following a Supreme Court decision blocking his attempt to declare four seats vacant, Bagbin urged for legislative discussion over judicial interference, while Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo characterized the situation as a crisis requiring urgent resolution. The dispute highlights tensions between the legislature and the judiciary in Ghana.
In recent remarks, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin, has categorically asserted that the current parliamentary deadlock does not constitute a constitutional crisis. His statement follows a Supreme Court ruling that dismissed his attempt to challenge an earlier decision preventing him from declaring four parliamentary seats vacant. Speaking to the media on November 6, 2024, Bagbin emphasized the need for legislative deliberation rather than reliance on judicial intervention. He firmly affirmed, “There is no constitutional crisis in this country. I repeat, there is no constitutional crisis in this country,” advocating for calm among the citizens. Speaker Bagbin reiterated that the Parliament possesses the constitutional authority to revoke the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) who have either changed their party affiliation or announced their independence ahead of the upcoming elections. Furthermore, he accused the Executive and Judiciary branches of conspiring to diminish Parliament’s authority amid the ongoing situation. In contrast, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo recently labeled this dispute as a constitutional crisis that requires immediate attention, raising concerns over delays in the judicial process.
The current political climate in Ghana has been marked by a dispute concerning four parliamentary seats, leading to a clash between the legislative and judicial branches of government. Speaker Alban Bagbin’s assertion of no constitutional crisis emerges amid a Supreme Court ruling that obstructed his declaration of the seats as vacant, thereby intensifying the debate over the powers and roles of Parliament in the Ghanaian political landscape. The Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkornoo, has reacted to this dispute by emphasizing the urgent need for resolution, reflecting the heightened tensions surrounding this matter.
The ongoing tensions between Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of parliamentary seat vacancies and the Supreme Court’s ruling underscore serious concerns about the balance of power within Ghana’s government. As both the Speaker and the Chief Justice express conflicting viewpoints on the situation, it remains to be seen how this impasse will be resolved and what implications it may have for the future of legislative authority in Ghana. Speaker Bagbin’s call for calm amidst accusations of undermining Parliament highlights the complexities and challenges facing Ghana’s democratic institutions during this contentious episode.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
