The current democratic dispensation of Ghana which is predicated on the 4th Republic is 32 years and counting. Indeed, the 4th Republican dispensation has been shaped by many an actor or institutions at different times and from different perspectives.
Sitting of Parliament resumes on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2024. And it will do so in controversy. Who sits on the right side of the speaker and controls the business of the house, is the question to be answered yet later.
Elected as the Member of Parliament for the Tamale South Constituency in 2024, Lawyer Haruna Iddrisu has distinguished himself is many ways. Not only has he demonstrated his versatility of the law and of the procedure in Parliament, but he has been a bulwark of shaping the infant democracy of Parliament.
Lawyer Haruna’s arguments and debates on the floor of Parliament are pristine, refined and resonate with proper reasoning of the Law. As a Lawyer of good standing (22 years at the Bar), he has participated in legislative processes that resulted in good laws for Ghana.
In fact, Lawyer Haruna amongst other three MPs including Ras Mubarak, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu and Ben Abdallah Bandah were the first to introduce a Private Member’s Bill in 2018, thus, “The Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2020.” This bill sought to introduce stiffer punishment for traffic offenders whose actions lead to the death of unborn children.
This goes to confirm that, Lawyer Haruna’s parliamentary duties are discharged beautifully without and intention to personally benefited from same. Rising to become one of the finest leader (Minority leader) in the last Parliament demonstrated his ability to handle challenges and to lead. His leadership indeed saw to the election, for the first time, a speaker from the Minority in Parliament. And over time, he has demonstrated this kind of leadership to the admiration of many people.
His last straw was how his petition to the speaker has led to the displacement of the arrangement in Parliament, rendering the NPP majority then to now the minority caucus in Parliament. In fact, not only did he place his petition on the precedent set by Speaker Mike Ocquaye, but he adduced cogent arguments and irrefutable evidence to make his case for the declaration of the vacancy of 4 seats in Parliament, including one seat from his caucus.
This has not only disoriented Parliament and the sitting arrangements, but it has triggered one of the most effective constitutional law discourse in Ghana. We wait to see what the position of the speaker will be on Tuesday regarding the order made by the speaker which many lawyers and constitutional law enthusiasts have described as misplaced and unjust.
It is only be fair if we gave Lawyer Haruna his fair share of the national praise for his sterling leadership and effective legislative duties. Time will surely vindicate him.
By Alhaji Inusah Mahama
(NDC Regional Youth Org—SR)
No comments:
Post a Comment