Social commentator and activist, James Kwabena Bonfeh, popularly known as Kabila, has expressed concern over the actions of Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, stating that he poses a threat to Ghana’s democracy.
Speaking on Peace FM on Wednesday, October 23, Kabila, a social commentator and activist, criticised the Speaker’s recent handling of parliamentary affairs, particularly regarding the ongoing dispute over the status of four parliamentary seats.
The controversy began when Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament, invoked Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution on October 15, 2024.
This raised questions about the status of four MPs: two from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), one from the NDC, and one independent MP.
Although the Supreme Court stayed the ruling on the matter, the NDC MPs have vowed to ignore the court’s decision, insisting that they will only adhere to Speaker Bagbin’s directives.
This standoff has escalated into a significant political and legal confrontation. Mr Kabila believes Speaker Bagbin’s decision to adjourn the house indefinitely on Tuesday, October 22, amid the tensions, only worsens the situation.
He argued that Speaker Bagbin’s actions are undermining the stability of Parliament and, by extension, the nation’s democratic institutions.
Mr Kabila emphasised that the Speaker’s role is to uphold the law and ensure smooth parliamentary proceedings, but Bagbin’s decisions appear to be fueling division.
He called on Ghanaians to be vigilant and urged leaders to respect the rule of law, warning that Bagbin’s behaviour could have serious implications for Ghana’s democracy.
“By law, we have 275 seats in Parliament and nobody can vary that number to 271 not even the Supreme Court. The number is a given that we have 275 seats in Parliament. So what Ato Forson did for the Speaker to wrongly declare those seats vacant amounted to endangering the country’s democracy and that is what Speaker Bagbin has become. He is a danger to our democracy.”
ALSO READ: