The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr Rashid Draman, has called for a political, rather than a legal approach to resolve the ongoing stand-off in Ghana's Parliament.
Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile programme on Saturday, October 26, Dr Draman addressed the escalating disagreement between the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the composition of the majority caucus in Parliament.
This dispute has intensified following a recent ruling by Speaker Alban Bagbin, which declared four seats vacant—a ruling that has since been stayed by the Supreme Court.
The friction arose when Speaker Bagbin’s ruling prompted NDC MPs to assert their position as the new majority in Parliament, a claim that has been met with resistance from the NPP.
Dr Draman emphasised that such conflicts should be resolved through political dialogue rather than legal avenues, urging both parties to engage constructively to restore stability in the parliamentary process.
He argued that the current impasse could undermine the legislative functions of Parliament and erode public trust in the democratic process.
Draman's remarks come at a time when the NDC has pledged to disregard the Supreme Court's stay on the Speaker's ruling, further complicating the situation.
He cautioned that this defiance could lead to an escalation of tensions and a breakdown of parliamentary decorum.
Instead of pursuing legal battles that may prolong the conflict, Dr Draman advocates for open discussions and negotiations between the NPP and NDC to reach a consensus that respects the democratic principles at stake.
"I don't see this recall happening and if it does happen, I think we will have a major issue on our hands. This is not a legal issue. This is a political issue and must be addressed politically."
"Our constitution created the separation of powers and it did so thinking that those powers will have equal powers. But it gets to the point that sometimes there are matters that must be addressed politically," he stated.
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