The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed his belief that the ongoing parliamentary impasse could have been resolved without resorting to the courts.

Speaking during his fellowship with the clergy in Kumasi on Monday, November 11, Mahama emphasized the importance of dialogue and negotiation in resolving political conflicts, suggesting that a more collaborative approach would have been more beneficial for all parties involved.

Mahama’s comments come amid a contentious legal battle surrounding the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.

The ruling, which has sparked intense political debate, was initially enforced by Speaker Bagbin after alleging that certain MPs had violated constitutional requirements. However, the Supreme Court intervened, staying the execution of this ruling and deciding to make a final determination on the matter on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

According to Mahama, such disputes should ideally be settled through dialogue rather than judicial intervention.

“If I were president, I would have sought to settle this matter through discussions rather than legal proceedings. I would have called both sides and settled it outside court. This is a political matter not a legal matter.”

The dispute centers on Speaker Bagbin’s decision to declare the four parliamentary seats vacant, which has drawn criticism from the Majority caucus and others who argue that the Speaker overstepped his constitutional authority.

In response, the Supreme Court issued an injunction preventing further action on the vacated seats until a final ruling could be made after the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin went to the apex court to challenge Bagbin’s ruling.

Source: Citinewsroom.com