Commentary, News

Parliament’s Two ‘Majorities’ Must Act to Prevent Chaos

By Charles Neequaye, a Journalist

There is a popular proverb that says, “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

This ancient proverb of the Kikuyu people, an ethnic group in Kenya, is as true today as it was when the words were first spoken, perhaps many years ago. The simple explanation is that the fighting parties may recover quickly, but the affected bystanders may need more time to heal—perhaps even more than those who fought. This is exactly what Ghana is experiencing now in the Eighth Parliament of the Republic, where the two major political parties—the NPP and the NDC caucuses—are at each other’s throats, flexing their muscles over sensitive and delicate parliamentary practices and procedural issues that may require quick interpretation from the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court of Ghana.

We are just about 48 days away from the December 7, 2024 election, and the stakes are high with tensions rising, especially between the NPP and the NDC. This tension has spilled over into Parliament, with dramatic events unfolding.

The NPP has filed a suit in court and followed it up with a boycott of Parliament after Speaker Alban Bagbin removed four lawmakers from their seats due to their intention to contest the December 7 election under different affiliations. In a bold and unprecedented move, Speaker Bagbin declared the seats of the four lawmakers vacant on Thursday, October 17, 2024, giving the opposition NDC a slim majority over the NPP as the country heads toward the 2024 election. That decision prompted the NPP to immediately challenge the Speaker’s ruling. The four lawmakers—two from the ruling NPP, one from the main opposition NDC, and one independent—have declared their intentions to run in the December 7 legislative election under fresh affiliations.

However, the 1992 Constitution bars MPs from defecting from the party for which they were elected to run again for another party or as independent candidates. According to the Speaker, “defection is prohibited because it undermines the trust placed in MPs by their constituents and can lead to instability in Parliament.” This shift in Parliament, therefore, raises concerns about key bills pending passage, including the Environment Protection Bill, which has been a hot topic due to illegal small-scale mining operations (galamsey).

The heated argument over the Speaker’s ruling compelled the NPP caucus, led by Alexander Afenyo Markin, to walk out of Parliament last Thursday. They vowed to boycott further sessions until the Court determines the case. Indeed, the NPP’s decision has the potential to paralyze government business, especially with crucial bills awaiting debate and passage.

In the midst of this crisis, the NPP rushed to the Supreme Court on Friday to seek an injunction against the Speaker’s ruling through an ex parte motion. Led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Supreme Court directed Parliament to officially recognize the four MPs and allow them to represent their constituents. The Court further instructed the Speaker to put his ruling on hold pending further legal review and final determination of the case.

It appears the NDC caucus, led by Cassiel Ato Forson, is uncomfortable with the Supreme Court’s decision and has vowed not to compromise on its stance. According to the NDC, the Speaker was right in his ruling, and they now assume the role of the majority in Parliament. At a press conference on Sunday, Dr. Ato Forson stated that the NDC, in its new role as the majority caucus, would lead government business to change some of the “obnoxious and draconian bills” like the E-Levy, which have made life uncomfortable for Ghanaians.

The current development in Parliament is a recipe for chaos, as the two major parties are on a collision course. This is worrying and disturbing to a large segment of society. The country is already polarized on political grounds, and tension continues to mount between the NPP and the NDC. This latest development could worsen matters and throw the country into confusion and anarchy.

This is the time for all stakeholders in this situation to speak out clearly and act swiftly, as the international community is monitoring the events unfolding in Ghana.

A stitch in time saves nine!