The Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Rasheed Draman, has also voiced concerns regarding the increasing interference of the judiciary in parliamentary matters.
This follows concerns raised by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin about the perceived collusion between the judiciary and the executive to undermine the legislative body.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, Bagbin accused the Judiciary and Executive of encroaching on legislative independence, warning that this interference could destabilise Ghana’s democracy.
He emphasised that parliamentary authority, especially concerning its internal matters, should not be subject to judicial control, adding that such interference sets a dangerous precedent that risks eroding the separation of powers enshrined in Ghana’s Constitution.
Speaking in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Wednesday, Draman noted that “To some extent, I have concerns about the too much interference by the court in the work of parliament, albeit sometimes at the instance of MPs themselves.”
He emphasised that Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected to engage in dialogue, debate, and decision-making within the parliamentary framework.
“We elected them to go and sit down and talk, and as politicians, they are supposed to talk, disagree, agree or disagree, and okay, this is where we stand. Even if they disagree, the business of our country has to continue,” he added.
Draman highlighted a troubling trend in the eighth parliament, where MPs frequently resort to the courts at the slightest provocation.
“What we have seen in this eighth parliament is that at the least instance, people run to court, and honestly, that is not good for this and for future parliaments,” he remarked.
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Source: Abigail Arthur