Political Scientist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has said the ongoing tensions in Parliament over the Kpandai election case are driven by politics rather than law.
Speaking on the AM Show on Wednesday, December 10, Dr Asah-Asante explained that after listening to the Majority Leader’s comments, it was clear to him that the matter had taken a political turn.
“From what I listened to from the majority leader… my understanding is that it’s nothing but pure politics and tactics that they employ, other than law,” he said.
He said that whatever actions Parliament takes cannot overrule a court ruling. “Whatever decision they took in Parliament, if the court pronounces today otherwise, or contrary to what they are saying, the decision of the court will remain the same.”
For that reason, he described the confrontations in the chamber as needless.
“I do not see the point of that attitude… that unruly behaviour in Parliament is needless. It’s nothing but politics,” he said.
Dr Asah-Asante pointed out that Parliament’s attempt to declare an MP persona non grata would not stand if the courts ruled in favour of that MP. “You can declare the person persona non grata in Parliament, but the court will reinstate the person if the court deems it fit,” he noted.
He criticised what he described as unnecessary political posturing. “All these things are unnecessary, very, very unnecessary,” he said, insisting that the actions appear “nothing but political decisions, other than legal decisions”.
On whether confrontations in Parliament are becoming normalised, Dr Asah-Asante said the structure of the House makes such tensions likely. “If you look at the numbers in Parliament… the minority can do their best, but the majority will have their way because of the numbers.
“Every time you see the majority bulldozing their way through using their numbers, you can’t help it. That is the situation on the ground,” he explained.
Dr Asah-Asante urged both sides of the House to adopt a more cooperative approach for the sake of national interest.
“If we really, as a society, want to make the best use of the numbers in Parliament for the best of our people, then there must be cooperation, there must be consensus… to ensure the survival of government business, and by extension, satisfaction of our interests,” he said.