The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed his belief that the ongoing parliamentary impasse could have been resolved without resorting to the courts.
Speaking during his fellowship with the clergy in Kumasi on Monday, November 11, Mahama emphasized the importance of dialogue and negotiation in resolving political conflicts, suggesting that a more collaborative approach would have been more beneficial for all parties involved.
Mahama’s comments come amid a contentious legal battle surrounding the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
The ruling, which has sparked intense political debate, was initially enforced by Speaker Bagbin after alleging that certain MPs had violated constitutional requirements.
However, the Supreme Court intervened, staying the execution of this ruling and deciding to make a final determination on the matter on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
According to Mahama, such disputes should ideally be settled through dialogue rather than judicial intervention.
“I think that it is something we can solve politically. The solution is not legal because Supreme Court can make a decision and parliament would say we are not under you, we are separate arm of government. So, this would have demanded a political solution. But all that is dependent on the president.
“If I were a president, I would have taken the case out of Supreme court and call both sides and their leaders and Council of state and the speaker to resolve the matter because I believe if that is done there would be a resolution to the matter,” he stated.