Vacant seats controversy: Take charge and resolve parliamentary impasse for Ghana’s sake – Kufuor to Bagbin

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to demonstrate strong leadership and resolve the current impasse in the House.

Kufuor pleaded with Bagbin to ensure that the 8th Parliament does not end with a bad reputation with barely a month left for the general elections.

Speaking in an interview with Asempa FM on November 8 2024, Kufuor expressed his dissatisfaction with the recent developments in the House, cautioning that the impasse could tarnish Bagbin’s legacy if the situation is unresolved.

He urged the speaker to end the impasse for the successful end of the eight parliament and the country’s sake as there are several government businesses, budget and bills to consider.

He called on the Speaker as a leader of the House to put an end to the impasse and ensure a successful exit of the 8th Parliament.

“I will plead with the Speaker; he has the solution. With only about a month left in this parliamentary session, you have served well. Parliament is in a mess, and if you’re not careful, it could affect your record.

“We are looking forward to the President’s last address in Parliament, there are budgets which need to be passed for a transitional period, all those things must be done within this period to successfully end the 8^th Parliament, rather all these things are happening.

“Speaker, let things return to how they used to be for Ghana’s sake so that the eighth Parliament can conclude successfully. You are the leader, so take responsibility and ensure that the impasse ends for the good of Ghana.

“The Speaker is the leader of Parliament that is why I am pleading with him, he’s a statesman now and his name is included in the history books of Ghana so I am pleading with him to avoid any bad reputation of his legacy,” he said.

Currently, there is tension in Parliament following Bagbin’s declaration of four seats vacant. The New Patriotic Party caucus in Parliament has disagreed with Bagbin’s declaration and secured a Supreme Court order for a stay of execution of the Speaker’s declaration.

The National Democratic Congress caucus has firmly endorsed Bagbin’s declaration, insisting that they are now the Majority Caucus in Parliament.

The House has been adjourned indefinitely twice after the NPP MPs boycott sittings because the NDC MPs occupied the Majority seats in Parliament.

The NPP MPs contend that the Speaker must respect the Supreme Court order and direct the NDC MPs to vacate the Majority seats.

The House is currently on an indefinite adjournment awaiting the final determination of the matter by the Supreme Court on November 11.

The post Vacant seats controversy: Take charge and resolve parliamentary impasse for Ghana’s sake – Kufuor to Bagbin first appeared on 3News.

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