The Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to desist from making statements concerning the yet-to-be-formed Ninth Parliament.
In an interview on GH ONE TV, Mohammed criticized Bagbin for commenting on parliamentary matters beyond his current term.
“Bagbin should shut up; he is not going to be a Speaker in the Ninth Parliament.
This is not the time for him to be talking,” he stated.
Mohammed emphasized that Bagbin’s role is limited to the Eighth Parliament and that his recent remarks on the annulled parliamentary election results and their implications for the Ninth Parliament are unwarranted.
“He is the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament, so he has no business making such statements about the Ninth Parliament.
He should wait until he becomes the Speaker in the next Parliament, if that happens,” Mohammed added.
On December 28, 2024, Speaker Bagbin remarked that parliamentary candidates whose results were annulled by the Supreme Court on December 27, 2024, are ineligible to be sworn in as Members of Parliament on January 6, 2025.
In response, Haruna Mohammed challenged Bagbin’s interpretation of the legal process for parliamentary swearing-in.
“When the Electoral Commission (EC) declares someone a winner, it does not immediately qualify them to be sworn in by the Speaker.
The Returning Officer must prepare a writ, which is then commissioned and gazetted by the EC.
Only the gazette allows the Speaker to swear in MPs,” Mohammed explained.
The NPP Deputy General Secretary criticized Bagbin’s understanding of the law and cautioned against hasty or misleading pronouncements.
“As a lawyer, Bagbin should know better than to make such misleading statements. We cannot jump in and make reckless statements in this country.
Today, you may celebrate, but tomorrow you might not be able to defend your actions,” he warned.
“The NDC should avoid playing games with the law and focus on respecting established processes,” he stated.
“Let us respect the laws of this country and ensure their consistent application.
It is imperative to uphold the laws and respect the intellectuals who interpret and enforce them,” he concluded.
He[Speaker Bagbin] should shut up, he’s not going to be the Speaker in the 9th Parliament… – Haruna Mohammed (Deputy General Secretary, NPP)#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert#CAFShouldPaySpiky @AwisiDede pic.twitter.com/PjweXhQv0N
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) December 29, 2024
