Social commentator and activist James Kwabena Bonfeh, popularly known as Kabila, has raised alarms about the actions of Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, claiming that he poses a significant threat to Ghana’s democracy.
Speaking on Peace FM on Wednesday, October 23, Kabila criticized Bagbin’s handling of parliamentary affairs, particularly regarding the ongoing dispute over the status of four parliamentary seats.
The controversy originated when Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader in Parliament, invoked Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution on October 15, 2024, leading to questions about the status of four MPs—two from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), one from the NDC, and one independent MP.
Despite the Supreme Court staying the ruling on this matter, NDC MPs have vowed to disregard the court’s decision, stating that they will only adhere to Speaker Bagbin’s directives. Kabila expressed concern that this standoff has escalated into a significant political and legal confrontation, exacerbated by Bagbin’s decision to adjourn the House indefinitely on October 22 amid rising tensions.
Kabila argued that Speaker Bagbin’s actions are undermining the stability of Parliament and, by extension, the nation’s democratic institutions. He emphasized that the Speaker’s role is to uphold the law and ensure smooth parliamentary proceedings, yet Bagbin’s decisions seem to be fueling division within the House.
Calling on Ghanaians to remain vigilant, Kabila urged leaders to respect the rule of law, warning that Bagbin’s behavior could have serious implications for Ghana’s democracy.
He stated, “By law, we have 275 seats in Parliament and nobody can vary that number to 271, not even the Supreme Court. The number is a given that we have 275 seats in Parliament. So what Ato Forson did for the Speaker to wrongly declare those seats vacant amounts to endangering the country’s democracy, and that is what Speaker Bagbin has become. He is a danger to our democracy.”
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