We are not in a Constitutional crisis – Bagbin to Gertrude Torkornoo

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has vehemently refuted constitutional crisis claims by Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkonoo as a result of the indefinite suspension of Parliament.

The Chief Justice, during the hearing of the application by the Speaker to vacate the ruling of the apex court on the vacant seats issue, questioned why Parliament was not sitting

Addressing the media in an uncharacteristic move, Alban Bagbin described such an assertion by the CJ as a deception. The former Nadowli-Kaleo Member of Parliament (MP) explained his decision was well grounded in the procedures of Parliament.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to start this presser by disabusing and setting the minds of Ghanaians at ease. There is no constitutional crisis in this country. I repeat, there is no constitutional crisis.

“The Parliament of Ghana is alive and working. Let nobody mislead, misinform, or disinform, you and the country. The democratic system we adopted and enacted, as captured in the Constitution, 1992, and fleshed out in various laws, processes, procedures and practices, is what has been triggered and it is working. Let us allow it to work”, he added.

Mr. Alban Bagbin further took on the apex court of the land for what he describes as the judiciary’s encroachment on the territory of the Legislature, warning that the consequences are dire.

“Democracy is about the rule of law. Let the law work. The democratic system we adopted and enacted recognizes, in the course of operationalizing the system, disagreements will occur, and challenges and problems will arise.

“The system has put in place mechanisms, structures, and institutions, processes, procedures and rules to follow and apply to resolve the disagreement, convert the challenges into opportunities and provide solutions to the problems. This is what is being pursued and applied. There is no constitutional crisis in the country”, Speaker Bagbin stated.

The Speaker further accused President Akufo-Addo and the Chief of engaging in a sin against the constitution over the handling of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. Mr. Alban Bagbin asked the two to repent revealing his instructions to the clerk to resubmit the anti-gay bill to the President for his assent.

Speaker Bagbin also rejected accusations of illegally procuring legal services from Thaddeus Sory, following Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame’s questioning of the basis for such claims.

He revealed his intention to discuss the matter verbally with the A-G whenever he has the opportunity to meet him.