The concerns that have been raised by the Minority in Parliament against the judiciary should be addressed in order to build trust and confidence in the judicial system, Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) Dr Rasheed Draman, has said.
Dr Draman also called for dialogue among the Members of Parliament on how to address these concerns despite the principle of the separation of powers.
He recognized that although there is a separation of powers, the judiciary has recently shown in their orders to parliament that one arm of government can interfere with the work of the other arm.
“First of all, if you listen to the NDC side, their argument about the whole process in terms of how this is being handled, there seem to be some concerns about justice delivery in our country. I think that the earlier this matter is looked at the better for us.
“Parliament, I believe, is the right forum and I hear Members of Parliament say separation of powers prevents them from interfering with the work of the judiciary but we have seen the judiciary interfere with the work of parliament in recent weeks. I believe in the interest of the entire citizenry of our country, if there are concerns about the judiciary I think the earlier we address these concerns the better for all of us so that we can all trust the judiciary,” he said on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Thursday, July 6.
He further told the Minority that they would have to reconsider their decision to boycott parliament in support of their members who are standing trials in court.
Dr Draman said that the boycotts will not be sustainable especially if the cases are going to travel for a long time.
“It might be difficult to sustain particularly if the cases are going to travel a very long period like many cases in our country. I don’t think the NDC caucus can afford to be out of parliament for that long. So perhaps a relook at this strategy might be necessary on their part,” Dr Draman said on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 Thursday, July 6.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Minority in Parliament stayed away from sittings of Parliament on Thursday, July 6 to enable members to accompany and solidarize with two members of their caucus, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and lawmaker for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.
The two appeared in court in their respective ongoing prosecutions by the Attorney-General and the NPP Government.
A statement issued by Minority Chief Whip Kwame Agbodza said “The Minority stands united with our colleagues, and as such will not be able to honour the business of the house today.
“This is the beginning of a series of actions that the Caucus will be embarking on to end the ongoing persecution of the Minority Leader himself, the Hon. James Gyakye Quayson and the Hon. Collins Dauda. We wish to reiterate the point that amidst persecution, cooperation will suffer.”
Their Leader, Ato Forson earlier indicated that the caucus had resolved to solidarise with James Gyakye Quayson until his trial in court was done with.
He made this known immediately after Mr Gyakye Quayson was sworn in as MP on Tuesday, July 4.
Quayson swore the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament as administered by Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin exactly a week after he won the by-election held as a result of his deposition by a Supreme Court ruling. He was said to have been invalidly elected.
Giving his remarks after the swearing-in, which was well-attended by friends and family of the Mr Gyakye Quayson, Dr Ato Forson served notice that the Minority will not join the business of the House on days the Assin North member will appear in court for his daily trial.
“Mr Speaker, I wish to serve notice that the entire Minority Group will accompany our colleague to court today and any other day that he is to appear in court,” he stated.
“Mr Speaker, we are solidarising with our colleague and we will not participate in the business of the House anytime our colleague is in court and we will be withdrawing form the chamber after this ceremony if the court processes indeed happen today.”
The case was called at the High Court on Tuesday, July 4 but it was adjourned to Thursday, July 6.
The Minority insists cooperation in the House will be difficult to achieve in the face of the ongoing trial.
“Amid persecution, cooperation will certainly suffer. Mr Speaker, a word to wise is in Assin North.”