Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff under President J.A. Kufuor, has urged Parliament to resolve internal matters independently, without relying on court injunctions.
His remarks come in response to a recent application by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to the Supreme Court, challenging Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
The Supreme Court later deemed Bagbin’s declaration unconstitutional in a 5-2 ruling, with Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo stating that the Speaker’s action could not stand.
This decision has intensified tensions over the composition of the Majority and Minority in Parliament.
Mr. Mpiani cautioned that frequent court interventions could disrupt Parliament’s functions. He encouraged the legislative body to settle disputes through internal dialogue and consensus, noting that such an approach could have prevented the current impasse.
He also advised Speaker Bagbin to respect the Supreme Court’s ruling and urged MPs to prioritize constructive discussions to maintain parliamentary stability.
“I don’t personally believe that anybody should injunct Parliament because if you do that, you will make the work of Parliament more difficult because next time, I will run to court to injunct Parliament on how it does it works.
“Parliament should be able to resolve its issues itself. If you return to Parliament and don’t get a quorum for decisions, what has been achieved?” Mr Mpiani asked this during an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Wednesday, November 13.
