Mr. Abraham Koomson, Secretary General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), has revealed that Ghana’s democracy is treading on a dangerous ground that could derail the national democratic development and set us back.
He noted that the warpath embarked on by the Legislature and the Judiciary could trigger a democratic debacle and called on religious and traditional leaders, civil society organizations, democratic stakeholders, and governance institutions to engage the two arms of government for amicable settlement.
Speaking to the media in Tema on Monday on the recent development between the legislature and the judiciary, Mr. Koomson asserted that the current political situation is inadvertently creating an opening for military adventurism to destabilize the country.
The GFL Secretary General also expressed concern about the speed and urgency with which the Supreme Court accepted and ruled on an ex-parte motion filed by members of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament.
On Friday, October 19, 2024, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on a ruling by Speaker Right Honourable Alban Bagbin, who had declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
According to Mr. Koomson, the swift ruling will halt the Speaker’s decision and allow the affected MPs to retain their seats until the case is fully resolved.
Mr. Koomson expressed concern about what he terms “haste,” arguing that the Supreme Court should have taken more time to deliberate.
“The impression I get, and what my colleagues labour leaders who are in the legal fraternity are saying, is that Ghana could be heading towards a very dangerous place.
“Why was there such a rush to overturn the Speaker’s ruling on these four seats?” he asked.
He noted that while no one wishes for military intervention, the actions of the country’s institutions seem to be paving the way for it.
“Nobody wants the military to take over, but when we look at what’s happening, it seems we are giving them an opportunity. That’s what scares me,” Mr. Koomson lamented.
Mr. Koomson expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the Supreme Court’s ruling, particularly its impact on the relationship between Parliament and the judiciary.
“The Speaker of Parliament will not take this ruling lightly, and it raises a serious question—where do we go from here?” he stressed.
The four MPs affected by the Speaker’s ruling include three from the NPP: Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), who is an independent MP aligned with the Majority.
The fourth is Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaker Bagbin’s initial ruling had shifted the balance of power in Parliament, giving the NDC a majority with 136 seats, while the NPP fell to 135.
However, the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Speaker’s ruling temporarily restores the original balance until the case is fully resolved.
Mr. Koomson emphasized the need for caution, urging the country’s leaders and institutions to prioritize stability and avoid actions that could lead to greater political turmoil.
Reflecting on his past experience under military governance in Ghana, Mr. Koomson expressed deep concern.
“It terrifies me,” he said, “because if we don’t put our house in order, we might find ourselves under a military regime again, and that thought alone is frightening.”
He specifically raised alarms about the recent decision by the Supreme Court, suggesting it could contribute to political instability, possibly leading the country down a dangerous path.
Source: moderngh.com
