John Mahama Advocates for Political Dialogue Over Court Intervention in Parliamentary Dispute
John Mahama Advocates for Political Dialogue Over Court Intervention in Parliamentary Dispute
- Mahama highlighted the importance of dialogue and negotiation in resolving political conflicts
- The Supreme Court has since intervened, staying the enforcement of Bagbin's ruling
- Mahama argued that such disputes should ideally be settled through political dialogue
John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has voiced his belief that the current parliamentary impasse could have been resolved without involving the courts.
Speaking during a meeting with clergy in Kumasi on Monday, November 11, Mahama highlighted the importance of dialogue and negotiation in resolving political conflicts, suggesting that a collaborative approach would have been more advantageous for all parties involved.
His remarks come amid a contentious legal dispute regarding Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
This ruling, which has ignited significant political debate, was made by Speaker Bagbin based on allegations that certain MPs violated constitutional requirements.
The Supreme Court has since intervened, staying the enforcement of Bagbin’s ruling and scheduling a final decision on the matter for Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
Mahama argued that such disputes should ideally be settled through political dialogue rather than judicial intervention. “I believe we can solve this politically. The solution is not legal, because the Supreme Court can make a decision, but Parliament might assert that it is a separate arm of government. This situation calls for a political solution, which ultimately depends on the president,” he said.
“If I were president, I would have removed the case from the Supreme Court and brought both sides, their leaders, the Council of State, and the Speaker together to resolve the issue. I believe this would lead to a resolution,” he added.
