Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the former Majority Leader in Parliament, has publicly endorsed the current Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, in his initiative to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention on parliamentary issues as reported by MyNewsGH on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
This decision has ignited considerable discussion among political observers, but Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu regards it as a crucial move to clarify legal interpretations that have emerged from recent parliamentary proceedings.
In an interview with Sompa FM, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu emphasized, “The Supreme Court is the ultimate authority when it comes to interpreting the law,” pointing out the necessity of judicial input when legislative matters become complex.
He praised Afenyo Markin for his proactive stance, particularly given the complications arising from actions taken by the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Kingsford Alban Bagbin.
The seasoned politician highlighted that the Speaker’s decisions have sometimes hindered legislative processes, necessitating a judicial review.
“The decisions made by the Speaker have adversely affected our work, and it is crucial that we seek clarification from the Supreme Court,” he said.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also took a stand against critics who have chastised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership for turning to the judiciary.
“We cannot let fears about the separation of powers deter us from seeking justice. If we feel the Speaker is overstepping his authority, we must take action,” he said, arguing that the separation of powers should not be an impediment to addressing valid concerns.
On past occurrences, he pointed to various instances where Bagbin’s decisions seemed to disproportionately favor specific agendas, causing frustration within the majority.
“This is not just about today; it’s a pattern we have observed. The Speaker’s decisions have consistently favored certain agendas, which have led to frustrations among the majority,” he said.