KEY POINTS
- Former President Kufuor urges Speaker Bagbin to maintain stability.
- Kufuor contends MPs did not “cross carpet” in the current Parliament.
- Tension escalates as Bagbin’s ruling faces Supreme Court review.
Former Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor has spoken out about the recent tension in Parliament, urging Speaker Alban S.K. Bagbin to maintain stability.
Kufuor’s comments come in response to the Speaker’s October 17 ruling declaring four parliamentary seats vacant, alleging the MPs had defected by choosing to run in the December 2024 elections on different tickets than those on which they were elected.
The decision is under Supreme Court review for a ruling on the interpretation of Article 97, which governs seat vacancy due to party switching.
Kufuor argued that the MPs’ intentions to contest on new platforms in 2025 do not amount to “cross carpeting” in the present Parliament. He urged Speaker Bagbin to allow the MPs to retain their seats for the remaining weeks of the parliamentary term, which ends January 7, 2025.
“Ghanaians are watching, and there is no need for unnecessary tactics that could disturb the peace,” Kufuor stated, calling on the Speaker to prioritize a smooth transition.
Call for leadership amid tension over vacated seats
The Speaker’s ruling, based on a petition from Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, has intensified divisions within the House, with Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin leading an NPP walkout and threatening a boycott until the Supreme Court ruling is issued.
Kufuor emphasized that Speaker Bagbin has the authority to restore order, describing the standoff as “embarrassing” and damaging to the Speaker’s reputation if left unresolved. He urged Bagbin to “step up and show leadership” in guiding Parliament through this tense period.
The former president noted that with only a month left in the parliamentary session, stability is essential to address outstanding responsibilities, including the President’s last State of the Nation address, the national budget, and transitional preparations.
According to Graphic Online, Kufuor cautioned against allowing current issues to overshadow the final work of this Parliament, suggesting that Bagbin has “all the solutions in his bosom.”
Constitutional interpretations and Parliament’s path forward
Speaker Bagbin’s ruling hinges on Articles 97(1)(g) and (h), which prohibit MPs from switching political allegiance mid-term.
The Speaker interpreted these provisions as grounds for declaring seats vacant, stating that defection violates the mandate voters entrusted to their representatives. However, Bagbin later clarified that he informed Parliament of the vacancies without an official ruling, pending the Supreme Court’s final decision.
The ruling has prompted debate over whether these provisions apply only prospectively or to the current term. Bagbin emphasized that the intent of Article 97 is to prevent political instability, safeguard party loyalty, and uphold parliamentary integrity.
Kufuor’s appeal underscores his belief in a calm, constructive approach, encouraging Speaker Bagbin to ensure decorum as the legislative body nears its final duties.
