A Professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has expressed concern over a growing standoff between the Parliament of Ghana and the Supreme Court.

He warned that the current constitutional dispute could descend into chaos without intervention.

This follows the Supreme Court’s recent dismissal of President Alban Bagbin’s application to overturn a ruling that suspended his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Professor Gyampo argued that the situation requires intervention beyond the judicial process.

“This matter, in my opinion, was not a matter that should be resolved in court. “If there are elders in Ghana, if we have a functioning State Council, this is the time they would have to step in and resolve matters,” he said on Thursday.

He noted that the high level of political partisanship has hindered constructive mediation by traditionally neutral institutions, creating an environment in which institutions are reluctant to resolve problems outside of formal legal channels.

“We have managed to politicize all the institutions of government… so that now we do not have people in Ghana with moderate influence who can intervene,” he observed.

Professor Gyampo warned that the current judicial intervention risks escalating the conflict between Parliament and the judiciary, leading Parliament to resist what it could see as judicial overreach.

“This current matter before the court is not one that the Supreme Court can resolve in a manner that will bring peace…Parliament will prevail and will not allow itself to be subservient to the judicial arm of the government.

“And then what is going to happen? Chaos!” he stressed.

Calling on the Council of State to step forward, Professor Gyampo urged eminent Ghanaians to take on the role of mediators to avert a constitutional crisis.

“If the State Council… wants to play its role, then I think we can achieve some solution to this impasse,” he said.

Background

Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin initiated the court process after President Alban Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant.

Therefore, the Supreme Court stayed President Bagbin’s statement. The president also responded with a lawsuit to overturn the Court’s ruling that suspended his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.

The Speaker’s legal team argued, among other arguments, that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction in this case.

However, after hearing arguments from all parties, including the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, the Supreme Court held that its earlier ruling was appropriate and stated that the Speaker’s appeal was without merit.

Parliament will reconvene

Meanwhile, a five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the President, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, has paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker to learn first-hand about the developments that have transpired in the Legislature in recent times, which resulted in the adjournment of the session. the Chamber indefinitely.

It was during this visit that the Speaker revealed that his office had already initiated proceedings to recall the House.

He said the office is working to achieve the impeachment of the House in early november.

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