Lawyer and Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, says Speaker Alban Bagbin, has not done what would have led to greater peace.
This he explained is because, he believes that currently, there is no express indication that Parliament has effected the ruling of the Supreme Court.
In an interview on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 2, the Speaker should have announced a reversal of his ruling indicating that the status quo has been held as it was.
“… The simple thing that would have been done for everything to cool down would have been for the Speaker to say I disagree with you [SC] but I respect it. As far as I am concerned, I think the Speaker has not done what I believe would have led to greater peace,” he said.
“I want to hear the Speaker communicate his acceptance and communicate the fact that he does not agree. I think this is necessary,” he added.
This, he noted will ensure peace and calmness within the leadership.
“I have heard people belligerently, even some angrily saying they would defend their newly won majority, I have heard people say they are going to use their majority to repel laws and you think under those circumstances, we should assume that they are going to go in and do everything properly? You want there to be a scuffle before they go to the same Supreme Court again for ruling?”
His comment follows the Supreme Court issuing a stay of execution on Speaker Bagbin’s ruling, which declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
Parliament was, in essence, instructed to recognise and allow the four MPs to fully represent their constituencies and carry out their official duties.
When Parliament reconvened, the Speaker acknowledged the Supreme Court ruling but did not comment on it.
The house was subsequently adjourned over insufficient numbers to take a decision since the NPP Caucus staged a walkout after their seats were occupied by the NDC Caucus.
Mr Bentil asserted that Supreme Court ruling must be respected, even if an individual disagrees with it.
He added that, even if the Speaker disagrees with the ruling, it is crucial not to create the impression that Supreme Court decisions are disregarded.
Meanwhile, the Speaker filed an application for the Supreme Court to overturn its ruling that suspended his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant but it was rejected.
The Supreme Court maintained that its earlier ruling was appropriate, stating that the Speaker’s appeal was without merit.
“We have considered the application, and we have come to the conclusion that the grounds supporting the application have no merit,” the Chief Justice stated.
source: myjoyonline.com
