MPs must avoid throwing punches in Parliament on Tuesday – Prof. Agyemang-Duah

Former United Nations (UN) Advisor on Governance, Professor Baffour Agyemang-Duah has cautioned the Members of Parliament (MPs) to to avoid punches in the chamber when they resume sitting on Tuesday, 22nd October 2024.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus in Parliament has vowed to protect its newfound majority status come Tuesday when the house resumes.

This development is in spite of a ruling by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court chaired by the Chief Justice freezing the declaration of seats of four MPs vacant by Speaker Alban Bagbin over the switching of allegiance.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus after the Supreme Court ruling announced its members will return when sitting resumes given the pronouncement from the apex court of the land.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Prof. Agyemang Duah advised the legislative leadership to ensure that they peacefully and confidentially resolve the issue at hand and avoid any possible physical confrontation like in the past.

“All the political actors must begin to reflect on the consequences of any serious confrontation between parliament and the judiciary. The consequences will be grave. So what I think should happen now is for the leadership of the parties, even in private with the Supreme Court, to discuss how they should avoid this confrontation. This cannot be done in public. There is no need to go on the radio station to address these issues. I think the leadership of the country should pick this up and quickly in private see how they can negotiate among themselves to forestall any such political calamity that can really challenge all of us as we move on,” Prof. Agyemang-Duah stated.

He also added, “So I think what we need now is for the leaders of the two political parties of parliament, probably with the judiciary, to begin to reflect on what to do to resolve this before it gets out of control. Because tomorrow, I do not want to sit by the television and see people throwing punches like they did at the beginning. It should not happen again.”