By Kingsley Mamore
Dambai (O/R), Oct 23, GNA – Residents of Krachi East in the Oti Region, have commended the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin for adjourning Parliament indefinitely.
The speaker’s decision to adjourn parliament indefinitely had been hailed as a wise move, preventing escalating tensions between the Majority and Minority sides of the house.
The Krachi East residents have expressed gratitude for the Speaker’s exceptional role, acknowledging that his actions had prevented potential chaos and instability.
Many who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) were happy that the Speaker salvaged the situation on time.
“Had the Speaker not intervened, Ghana would have descended into the brink of collapse, it’s a clear demonstration of leadership and maturity by Mr Bagbin that save Ghana from disgrace,” Madam Abena Mansah, a local trader at Dambai market said.
Other people who were patronizing their daily activities near landing facility at River Oti, have also appealed to the Council of State Members and National Peace Council to intervene in the parliamentary impasse.
“We urge the Council of State and National Peace Council to engage both parties to reduce tension,s. Their intervention will prevent further escalation and promote peaceful resolution,” Mr Joaquin Kwame Dakla, resident of Dambai Gbanzaba said.
On Tuesday, October 21, 2024, Mr Bagbin suspended proceedings indefinitely following chaotic scenes in the chamber over which party heldsthe parliamentary majority.
The speaker earlier declared four parliamentary seats vacant with barely two months to the election in December, arguing that Ghana’s Constitution did not allow MPs to defect.
In a finely balanced parliament, that decision was being challenged in the Supreme Court that the opposition National Democratic Congress had become the majority party.
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu Constituency in the Central region, led his colleagues from the other side of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that went to the Supreme Court to seek if indeed the Speaker had correctly interpreted the Constitution.
The judges asked the Speaker to suspend his declaration until they made a decision. However, both MPs from the leading political parties tried to occupy the seats reserved for the majority party on Tuesday, October 21.
Eventually, the NPP leader in parliament, Mr Afenyo-Markin instructed his colleagues to stage a walk out in order to avoid any disturbances.
The Speaker upon arrival stated that without the NPP legislators present there were not enough MPs to make decisions, which led him suspending proceedings indefinitely.
GNA