Nana Akomea, the Vice Chairman of the Bawumia Campaign Team, has blamed the ongoing stalemate in Parliament directly on the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, characterizing the situation as unprecedented.
His remarks follow the Supreme Court’s ruling that reversed Speaker Bagbin’s announcement declaring four parliamentary seats vacant.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face, Akomea reflected on how Parliament previously managed to address its challenges internally without the need for external intervention.
He referenced occasions in which the current Speaker, previously the Minority Leader, engaged in disputes with the late former Speaker Peter Ala Adjetey on various matters, but they were able to resolve them.
“It is an embarrassment what is happening in Parliament. It has never happened before since 1993 and I was in Parliament for a long time. We would have disagreements and verbal exchanges between the Speaker, the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader. But at the end of the day, they’re able to resolve whatever.”
“Bagbin himself was a Minority Leader, and he used to tell Peter Ala Adjetey [former Speaker] that he’s going to go after him. They used to have heated sessions in Parliament. And that is how it’s supposed to be, but at the end of the day, they’re able to move forward. What is happening today where there’s a total impasse has never happened and it’s all the Speaker’s fault.”
Asked if the Majority should not be blamed for the impasse, he retorted, “No, where does the NPP’s side come in?
On Tuesday, November 12, the Supreme Court overturned the decision made by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. This ruling was in favour of a challenge presented by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
In a detailed ruling delivered on Thursday, November 14, the five justices who backed the Majority Leader asserted that a parliamentary seat can only be considered vacant if a legislator switches political parties while retaining their role in Parliament.
However, two justices voiced their disagreement, arguing that the Supreme Court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter, thereby highlighting a difference in interpretation concerning the Court’s powers in relation to these issues.
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