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Deputy Leader of the Majority Group in Parliament and Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu constituency, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has accused the Minority group in Parliament of deliberately scandalizing the courts any time the verdict of the court does not favor them.
The Deputy Leader who addressed the media on Friday, July 30, 2021 was reacting to the Minority’s position on a recent judgement against one of their Members with implications on the numerical strength of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament. The ruling was by a High Court in Cape Coast and it was in connection with the dual citizenship status of the MP for the Assin North constituency – James Gyakye Quayeson.
The July 28, 2021 ruling by the Court held that the MP ceases to hold himself in such position until at least a new election is held.
This led the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu to declare at a press briefing in Parliament that, ”Cooperation in Parliament will suffer.” He said “the Judge erred in law and in facts. It is a travesty of justice.”
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While suggesting that “the courts of Ghana have been captured; that the courts of Ghana have become forums being used surreptitiously to tilt the balance of power.”
However, Afenyo-Markin said, his side is disappointed in the position taken by the Minority Group because they expected them to wake up to the rule of law which is part of the governance of the country since they have been in power before.
According to him, the Judiciary is independent of any other institution per Article 125(1&3). Therefore, the suggestion by the Minority that the Judiciary is being manipulated is not fair to the Judiciary and does not auger well for good governance.
“The NDC Minority has gained notoriety of always coming out to scandalize the Judiciary anytime a ruling or a judgement does not go in their favor,” he observed.
He argued that there was precedence in this particular case where a former Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Abu Sakande was caught up in a similar trap of late renunciation of his dual citizenship status before contesting for elections. He was subsequently prosecuted and jailed until he was pardoned by the President.
“What is different from the Sakande case that the NDC is complaining? The same NDC would want to put up a legal challenge. When they win, they are happy. When they lose they come home crying.” He said.
Source: Clement Akoloh || parliamentnews360.com
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