This is the worst time to put our nation through this drama – Asantehene on impasse in Parliament

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has described the current happenings in Ghana’s Parliament as a political crisis.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Bagbin has thrown out the Majority Leader’s request to recall the House after an indefinite adjournment, insisting they will only sit after the December 7 2024 elections.

This was after the New Patriotic Party caucus in Parliament failed to show up when the House was recalled on November 7, 2024.

Speaking at the 58th congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II called for reconciliation in Parliament.,

“When we send men and women to Parliament, we expect them to engage in rigorous debate. But we also expect them to be able to reconcile conflicting opinions. Our legislators cannot thrash the lessons of our history and expect to retain their honour among the people.

“This is the worst time to put our nation through this drama. Our democracy has not developed the resilience which can sustain prolonged political crisis. Our economy is also not in the best shape and whoever wins the upcoming elections is going to have a battle on his hands to rejuvenate the economy,” the Asantehene asserted.

Otumfuo asked for a bi-partisan approach in handling conflicting opinions in Parliament.

“Let us invoke the cardinal spirit of reconciliation and return to the path of bi-partisan corporation”.

Though the Supreme Court has overruled Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, citing Article 97(1)(g) of the Ghanaian Constitution, the National Democratic Congress caucus in Parliament maintain they are the Majority.

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