The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on Tuesday, July 4 shared varying opinions on the highly contestable issue of selective justice.
Though the two did not make direct reference to the ongoing trial at the High Court, their remarks came after the swearing-in of James Gyakye Quayson on Tuesday, July 4.
The Assin North Member of Parliament (MP) was sworn in exactly a week after he won the by-election.
Leadership of the House was, therefore, given the opportunity to pass their remarks after the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament was administered by Speaker Bagbin.
The Majority Leader, who is also the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, questioned the basis for which some members are referring to the case of the newly sworn-in MP as selective justice.
He cited provisions in the 1992 Constitution, specifically Article 97, about the circumstances that occasion the vacation of a seat by an MP.
“Mr Speaker, if this provision comes to be applied, nobody from his true conscience can say that it is persecution or selective justice. Let us respect the constitution that all of us have sworn to uphold,” he said.
“Selectivity will be that you elect to apply in piecemeal the entirety of the constitution. Mr Speaker, so people should understand and appreciate the import of this constitution and when it comes to be applied it is not selective justice.”
‘Rethink’
But in his remarks right after the Majority Leader’s, Speaker Bagbin said he still stands by his allusion to the case of Mr Gyakye Quayson as “selective justice” because evidence abound on that.
“I handled a number of petitions in court as a lawyer and when I speak I know why I say those statements about selective justice,” the former Majority Leader remarked.
“And I stand by those statements and I can produce evidence to support my position.”
He said if his statements are what anybody is making reference to, then that person needs a rethink.
“So please, if reference to the use of selective justice is to what I have said, then you have to rethink.”
