UFO calls for calm amid potential Supreme Court, Parliament standoff

The Universal Friendship Organization (UFO), a peace advocacy group, has raised concerns about the escalating tensions between the Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin and the judiciary.

In a statement, the UFO called for immediate intervention by key stakeholders in order to prevent a looming crisis.

The group has urged various national bodies and figures, including the Peace Council, Christian Council, Chief Imam, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and the Security Council, to advise both Parliament and the Supreme Court on finding a peaceful resolution.

The UFO emphasised the need for calm and restraint, warning that the situation if left unchecked, could have dire consequences for national stability.

"We call on all relevant peace advocacy groups and national leaders to intervene and advise Parliament and the Supreme Court to work together peacefully and in the interest of the nation," the statement read.

The peace group reminded Ghana's political leadership that their primary duty is to serve the people and advance national development, not engage in power struggles.

"This is a time for our leaders to prioritize the national interest over personal ambitions. The country’s progress must come before individual gains," UFO urged.

Background

The Supreme Court of Ghana on October 18, 2024, stayed the ruling of Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in the matter of the vacation of some four seats.

This occurred as the highest court in the land, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, considered an application from the leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The decision by the apex court effectively suspends the implementation of the Speaker’s ruling on October 17, 2024, pending further legal review and final determination.

Bagbin had granted a motion by the Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to declare some four seats vacant, making the NDC become the party with majority members in Parliament.

Delivering his ruling, the Speaker noted that the decision by the affected MPs to contest in the December 7, 2024, election as independent or on the ticket of a party different from the party on whose ticket they currently serve, contravened Article 97 (g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution.

He noted that the motive and operational effect of Article 97(g) and (h) was to cure the issues of cross carpeting and defection as witnessed in parliaments of old.

He stated that the intent of Article 97 (g) (i) was to cure party loyalty throughout the stay of an MP in Parliament.

He emphasised that the affected MPs by their decision and the Notice of Polls issued by the Electoral Commission for the December 7, 2024, parliamentary elections have vacated their seat.

The affected seats and their MPs included Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).

The NDC is upholding the Speaker's ruling, while the NPP is supporting the Supreme Court's decision. With heightened anticipation, it remains unclear how the Speaker will respond to this development.

Meanwhile, the speaker on October 22, 2024, suspended parliament indefinitely.

AM/KA

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