Given the present enmity between the Presidency and Parliament concerning the President’s refusal to assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill and many other private member bills that have been submitted to the Presidency, the general public is divided in its opinion on whether the President or Parliament is in the right on the issue.
While some are of the view that the President is woefully wrong in his treatment of Parliament regarding bills, others believe that the decision of the Speaker of Parliament to suspend Parliament’s sitting indefinitely is unwarranted.
Accordingly, Prof. Ranford Gyampo indicated that the fundamental truth of democracy is that the power of the ordinary citizen is stronger than the authority of the people in power, arguing that the Legislative arm of government which represents ordinary Ghanaians should be constitutionally mightier than the Executive which forms government.
He bared his astonishment at the fact that the basic ideals of democracy have eluded the President who should be a beacon of democracy and noted that the President must acknowledge that democracy caters for the common people first. “Even Rawlings who noted his dislike for democracy knew this” he added.
“The disregard for the General Will is occasioning an unnecessary tension between two key institutions of state that must work together. Unfortunately, eminent people who must intervene are either afraid or have taken sides”.
Prof. Ranford Gyampo
Furthermore, the Political Scientist stated that the President by his clandestine acts, that undermine the general will of Ghanaians to have the bill passed into law, made it challenging for his party, the NPP to campaign in the 2024 General Elections.
He noted that officials of the New Patriotic Party must be unflinching in their conviction to point out to the President the repercussions of his actions on the party’s electoral fortune. He indicated that the “NPP must be rescued”
Emphasizing the need for Parliament to be autonomous in the conduct of its duties, Prof. Ernest Kofi Abotsi argued that no entity – governmental or non-governmental – has the authority to dictate how Parliament conducts its legislative duties.
Prof. Abotsi stated that while the Judiciary can arbitrate in matters of external legal compliance, the principle of separation of powers instructs that each arm of government operates autonomously within its jurisdiction.
Parliament Folds Up
The Speaker of Parliament, Esq. Alban S.K Bagbin suspended the business of Parliament indefinitely until the Supreme Court addressed a court process filed by Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor that sought an injunct the Speaker regarding the vetting and selection of ministers of state.
The Speaker of Parliament indicated that his decision is based on the precedence set by the President concerning the anti-LGBTQ+ bill awaiting the court’s verdict before the President decides on it.
Esq. Alban Bagbin indicated that the President’s action poses a grave threat to the Parliament’s legislative authority and the democratic principles the country strives to uphold.
He argued that the implications of the President’s actions extend far beyond the issue of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, referring to the President’s refusal to sign other private member bills submitted to his office.
“This blatant disregard for legislative processes and constitutional mandates risks setting a perilous precedent that could weaken the very fabric of our governance structure that could weaken the very fabric of our governance structure”.
Esq. Alban S.K Bagbin
He further argued that such an action disintegrates the foundational checks and balances that the forebearers of Ghana’s Parliament established to ensure a vibrant and functioning democracy.
Conclusively, the Speaker indicated that it is disrespectful to overlook legislative work, which is the product of rigorous debate and consensus-building in Parliament, without a justifiable cause. He emphasized that the President’s disregard for the work of Parliament marginalizes the citizens that the Legislative arm of government is sworn to serve.
READ ALSO: Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, Constitutionalism; Consequences
