Kofi Bentil Urges Speaker to Ensure Parliamentary Peace Amid Supreme Court Ruling on Vacant Seats
Kofi Bentil, Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, has raised concerns regarding Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s handling of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on vacant parliamentary seats. In a discussion on JoyNews’ *Newsfile* on November 2, Bentil emphasized that a more transparent approach by Speaker Bagbin could help bring greater peace to Parliament. Bentil noted that the Speaker has yet to clearly affirm the Supreme Court's ruling, which temporarily reversed his earlier declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
Bentil stated that while Bagbin may personally disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, a direct acknowledgment would foster respect for the judiciary and reduce parliamentary tensions. “The simple thing that would have cooled down everything would have been for the Speaker to say, ‘I disagree with you [the Supreme Court] but I respect it,’” Bentil explained. He added that the Speaker’s endorsement of the ruling would have reassured the public and ensured calm within parliamentary leadership.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, issued in response to a challenge from affected Members of Parliament, instructed Parliament to reinstate the four MPs to their seats and allow them to continue their parliamentary duties. However, when Parliament reconvened, Speaker Bagbin merely acknowledged the court’s ruling without offering further comments. This response left many lawmakers uncertain, leading to a walkout by the NPP Caucus, which opposed the status quo upheld by the Speaker.
Reflecting on this, Bentil expressed disappointment that Parliament’s failure to officially implement the Supreme Court’s decision might signal disregard for the judiciary. He noted that several members expressed firm intentions to use their positions to counter the opposition, heightening the risk of conflict in Parliament. “Under these circumstances,” he argued, “one cannot assume that lawmakers will handle the situation in a way that respects both parliamentary procedures and the court’s authority.”
Bentil also pointed out the importance of ensuring that Ghana’s legal institutions, including the Supreme Court, maintain their authority in upholding constitutional and parliamentary law. He suggested that even if Bagbin finds the ruling contentious, he should accept the decision publicly to prevent the impression that judicial decisions can be selectively enforced or disregarded. “We need to be cautious of undermining the rule of law,” he cautioned, “as such perceptions could lead to instability within the parliamentary system.”
In a move to contest the Supreme Court’s initial decision, Speaker Bagbin had filed a request to have the ruling overturned. However, the court rejected this application, deeming it without merit. Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo confirmed the court’s position, emphasizing that the initial decision would remain in effect.
In light of these events, Bentil stressed the need for Parliament to resume deliberations peacefully and address the vacant seats issue through constructive dialogue. He concluded that adherence to judicial rulings is critical to maintaining order within the nation’s legislative framework and upholding the integrity of its democratic institutions.
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