Ghana’s National Peace Council has convened an emergency meeting to address the escalating tensions ahead of a critical parliamentary session scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2024. The session follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision to halt Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling, which had declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
The move by the Supreme Court has sparked a heated standoff between the Majority and Minority sides of the parliament, with the Minority signaling their intention to occupy the Majority side of the chamber until the Speaker issues a new ruling.
This development has raised concerns about potential disruptions and chaos during the upcoming session.
In an effort to maintain peace and stability, the National Peace Council is engaging with key stakeholders, including the leadership of Parliament, executives of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and other relevant agencies. The primary goal of the emergency meeting is to ensure that Tuesday’s session proceeds peacefully and without any untoward incidents.
Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, a member of the National Peace Council and spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, emphasized the importance of caution and urged all parties to act responsibly to prevent escalating tensions.
He expressed concerns about the potential deployment of military personnel, stressing that while there is no solid basis for such speculation, all parties must prepare for any outcome.
Sheikh Shaibu advised the various arms of government to set aside political sentiments and view the current situation as an opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s democracy.
He emphasized that the moment calls for collective responsibility and prudent decision-making, rather than partisan interests.
“This moment is not about one party or the other,” Sheikh Shaibu noted. “It is about reaching a point in our democratic journey where crucial decisions must be made for the betterment of our future.”
The National Peace Council’s intervention aims to facilitate constructive dialogue and cooperation among stakeholders, ensuring that the parliamentary session proceeds without incident and that the democratic process is upheld.
