Bolgatanga East Member of Parliament, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has called for a negotiated settlement to end the ongoing standoff in Parliament. Following the indefinite adjournment of parliamentary proceedings, Dr. Ayine emphasized the need for compromise between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to restore parliamentary activity.
Dr. Ayine recalled a past instance during his tenure as Deputy Attorney General, where he worked with the then-majority leader, Alban Bagbin, to reach a consensus on the Right to Information Bill despite strong opposition. He pointed to this as an example of how cooperation can lead to progress.
Parliament’s adjournment was triggered by Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant under Article 97 of the Constitution, a move that faced legal challenges from the NPP’s Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. The Supreme Court later issued an order halting the Speaker’s action, which temporarily paused the process of declaring the seats vacant.
Despite the court’s intervention, the NDC remains steadfast in asserting its majority status in Parliament, with many of its members occupying the right-hand side of the Speaker’s chair—traditionally the Majority side. In response, NPP MPs staged a walkout.
Dr. Ayine warned against taking rigid positions, instead advocating for a “give-and-take” approach. He suggested that both parties should focus on areas of agreement while putting aside more contentious issues for later discussion. Clarifying his previous remarks on court orders, Dr. Ayine noted that while he initially suggested the Speaker could contest the court’s ruling, he now stands in support of Parliament’s decision to assert its independence.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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