Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed strong disappointment over Parliament’s handling of the Kpandai parliamentary seat, describing the move to declare the seat vacant as a dangerous assault on Ghanas democratic principles.
Speaking on the matter, Dr Bawumia questioned why Parliament appears to be rushing the process despite several ongoing legal actions filed by the affected MP, Matthew Nyindam.
To him, the speed and manner in which the House is pushing the matter stands in sharp contrast to how similar disputes were handled in the past.
“To say the least, I am very, very disappointed in what is going on in our country. It looks like our institutions and our democratic tenets are being undermined,” he said.
Dr Bawumia noted that the Kpandai issue is not unprecedented, recalling past disputes involving Dan Abodakpi and Tei Naa, where Parliament allowed the courts to deal fully with the matters before taking any action.
But in the case of Matthew Nyindam, he argues, the House is taking a different and troubling approach.
“Matthew should be given his day in court. He has filed appeal processes at the High Court and sought a judicial review at the Supreme Court, yet none of those cases has been adjudicated. So why the rush Why the indecent haste” he asked.
He insisted that state institutions must not be “stampeded into acting in ways that undermine democracy,” stressing that nothing justifies treating Nyindams case differently from similar ones in the past.
Describing the process as one that “railroads” the MP, Dr Bawumia warned that such actions chip away at the pillars of Ghanas democracy.
“Democracy is something precious that we have all subscribed to. When you start undermining its pillars, you break it down, and the consequences for the nation are severe,” he said.
He cautioned political actors against abusing their authority simply because they hold power.
“Because you have power does not mean you can ride roughshod over your opponents or over the principles of democracy,” he stressed.
Dr Bawumia commended the Minority Caucus in Parliament for resisting the move and standing up for constitutional processes.
“I stand with the principles being espoused by the Minority. They are doing a good job, and we support the principles they are fighting for in this particular case,” he added.
