A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has voiced concerns over an escalating standoff between Ghana’s Parliament and the Supreme Court.
He cautioned that the ongoing constitutional dispute could spiral into chaos without intervention.
This follows the Supreme Court’s recent dismissal of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s application to overturn a ruling that suspended his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
Speaking in a media interview, Prof. Gyampo argued that the situation calls for intervention beyond the judicial process.
“This matter, in my view, wasn’t a matter that was supposed to be settled at the court. If there are elders in Ghana, if we have a Council of State that is functioning, this is the time they would have to intervene and settle matters,” he said on Thursday.
He noted that the high level of political partisanship has hindered constructive mediation by traditionally neutral institutions, creating an environment where institutions are reluctant to resolve issues outside formal legal channels.
“We have succeeded in politicising every institution of government…such that we don’t have people in Ghana now with moderate influence, who will be able to intervene,” he observed.
Prof. Gyampo warned that the ongoing court intervention risks intensifying the conflict between Parliament and the judiciary, leading Parliament to resist what it may view as judicial overreach.
“This current matter before the court is not one that the Supreme Court can settle in a manner that will bring about peace… Parliament would assert itself and will not allow itself to be made subservient to the judicial arm of government.
“And so what is going to happen? Chaos!” he stressed.
Calling on the Council of State to step up, Prof. Gyampo urged eminent Ghanaians to assume the role of mediators to prevent a constitutional crisis.
“If the Council of State…wants to perform their role, then I think that we may be able to bring about some resolution to this impasse,” he stated.
Background
The Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin initiated the court process after Speaker Alban Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
The Supreme Court, therefore, issued a stay in Speaker Bagbin’s declaration. The Speaker also countered with a suit seeking to overturn the Court’s ruling that suspended his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
The Speaker’s legal team argued, among other grounds, that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction in this case.
However, after hearing arguments from all parties, including the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Supreme Court maintained that its earlier ruling was appropriate, stating that the Speaker’s appeal was without merit.
Parliament to reconvene
Meanwhile, a five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, has paid a courtesy call on the Speaker to ascertain first-hand, happenings in the Legislature in recent times, resulting in the adjournment of the House indefinitely.
It was during this visit that the Speaker revealed that his office had already started processes to recall the House.
He said the office is working towards the recall of the House in early November.
Source: Richard Nana Appiah Kubi/Ahotoronline.com
