The New Patriotic Party(NPP) has criticized the Speaker of parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, advising him to avoid displaying strong partisan bias when overseeing parliamentary proceedings.
Per the NPP, Rt. posture is as follows: The Honorable Speaker has raised concerns, characterizing it as a potential danger to the democracy and peace of Ghana.
The response from the NPP is a result of a recent decision by the Speaker of parliament to declare four Parliamentary seats vacant.
This led to contentious discussions among political figures, with numerous individuals urging the Speaker to take necessary action by permitting members to finish their parliamentary term.
Other members of the public also believe that the Speaker acted correctly in declaring the seats vacant after the MPs decided to run in the upcoming Parliamentary elections with a different political party than the one they originally entered Parliament with.
Before issuing his ruling, the Leader of the NPP caucus in parliament had submitted a petition to the Supreme Court seeking clarification on the interpretation of Article 97 (g) of the 1992 constitution.
In a press release dated 23rd October, 2024, the NPP expressed concern that the Speaker’s stance poses a significant threat to Ghana’s democracy.
NPP wishes to take this opportunity to request that the Speaker refrain from exhibiting extreme partisan behavior while managing matters in the August House, particularly considering he is not a Member of Parliament.
The NPP has expressed concerns that the posture is highly risky and has the potential to weaken the core principles of our democracy. The party emphasized that the role of the Speaker of Parliament, as outlined in the constitution and oath of office, requires him to serve as a neutral arbiter rather than taking sides.
