Parliamentary impasse is needless and regrettable – Ablakwa
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has described the current confusion in Parliament as needless and regrettable, considering its impact on critical government business.
He blamed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs for the situation. According to him, had the NPP MPs accepted the Speaker, Alban Bagbin’s ruling regarding the four vacant seats, the situation would not have escalated.
"Let’s be honest, as political leaders, this whole episode is regrettable. There are so many important issues that have not been addressed, that have not received parliamentary attention because of this needless impasse," he said.
He added, “If Afenyo-Markin and his side had just respected the authority of the Speaker" this situation wouldn’t be where it is today.
He further noted that Mr Afenyo-Markin’s behaviour “undermines the authority of Parliament and the principles of separation of powers.”
Mr Ablakwa spoke on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, November 28.
The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had written a memo to the Speaker requesting the recall of Parliament to conduct business and address critical matters. However, the Speaker declined the request in his response, stating that the House would be reconvened after the 7th December election.
The parliamentary impasse began about two months ago when the Speaker declared four seats vacant after the holders of those seats decided to contest the December elections as independent candidates.
The ruling, which was not well received by the majority caucus in Parliament, compelled the NPP led by its leader Afenyo-Markin to take the case to the Supreme Court for constitutional interpretation and a possible reversal of the Speaker’s ruling.
After court hearings over several weeks, the Supreme Court ruled by a 5-2 decision, declaring that the Speaker's ruling declaring the seats vacant was unconstitutional and could not stand.
This series of events has left Parliament in a state of uncertainty, as Mr Bagbin has not recalled the House despite the court’s verdict.
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