Former President Agyekum Kufuor has waded into conversations hovering around the brouhaha in Parliament over the Majority position in the House following the removal of four legislators following their decision to contest as independent candidates in the upcoming polls.

Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM, the former President elucidated the role of Speaker of Parliament, Kingsford Sumana Bagbin and how his leadership can resolve the impasse in Parliament which is affecting the running of the country and tarnishing the reputation of Ghana's democracy .

“I will plead with the Speaker of Parliament to step up and show leadership. What’s happening in parliament is embarrassing. It can destroy his illustrious record," he said.

Vacant seat case

The Speaker’s vacant seat ruling that affected Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), based on his interpretation of Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, was contested by the NPP, particularly by the leader of the NPP Members of Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Afenyo-Markin argued that Speaker Bagbin had overstepped his constitutional authority by declaring the seats vacant without judicial oversight, prompting him to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.

In response to the challenge, the Supreme Court issued an interim injunction halting the Speaker’s decision until further judicial review. Speaker Bagbin has filed an application with the Supreme Court to reinstate his declaration of the seats as vacant, arguing that parliamentary decisions fall outside the jurisdiction of the judiciary. However, the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, dismissed Bagbin’s motion.

However, Speaker Bagbin has decided to stand by his earlier ruling and has refused to reverse his declaration made on October 22 when he adjourned parliamentary sitting.

Tensions have escalated since Speaker Alban Bagbin directed members of Parliament to end recess and reconvene at the Accra International Conference Centre on Thursday, November 7, after a petition filed by the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament in accordance with Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, underscoring the necessity of reconvening to tackle pressing national matters that demand immediate action.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament failed to show up after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament occupied the Majority position, prompting the Speaker to adjourn sitting indefinitely once more.

The Speaker explained that the House could not sit for business as the Business Committee chaired by NPP Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, could not sit to have a business that would be deliberated.

"As you know, they prepare report and this report adopted by the House as business agreed by the House to transact during the course of the week. In the absence of that, there is no other authority that can put government before you which you have not adopted to transact. In view of the failure of the Business Committee to sit, as a result of the refusal of those who requested for the recall to show up, we are compelled to once again adjourn the sitting of the House," the Speaker said.

He advised that "knowing the challenges we are facing, it is not advisable to be adjourning from day to day." On the matter, the Leader of the National Democratic Congress, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has accused the NPP MPs of causing financial loss to the state.

NPP MP and Trade Minister Kobina Tahir Hammond, on his part, registered his displeasure over the NDC MPs occupying the Majority side of Parliament despite the Supreme Court ruling that bars the Speaker from declaring some four seats vacant. He also announced that his side will cite the Speaker of Parliament for contempt of the court.

It is unknown whether or not the NPP Caucus will petition the Speaker to reconvene Parliament once more. However, the inefficient reconvening of the House cost taxpayers as each session costs Ghana at least GH¢1 million, according to Tamale Central MP Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.