Bagbin has solutions to Parliamentary standoff in his bosom, he should show leadership – Former President Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has urged the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin to show leadership in the current parliamentary stand-off, describing the situation as embarrassing.

In an interview on the Ekosii Sen programme on Asempa FM on Friday, former President Kufuor said Speaker Bagbin has all the solutions to the current standoff in his bosom, and urged him to exercise strong leadership in the ongoing stand-off in Parliament over sitting arrangements.

He expressed disappointment over the situation, describing it as an “embarrassing” impasse that could tarnish Bagbin’s otherwise distinguished career in the House of Parliament.

Mr Kufuor said the onerous was on Speaker Bagbin to maintain sanity in the House, especially when he has already explained that he has not made any ruling on the said four seats.

He said the Speaker should ask the members to allow the status quo to remain for everybody to sit at where they were originally sitting before the recent developments with only a few weeks to the end of the life of this Parliament.

Former President Kufuor in the interview with Asempa FM’s Osei Bonsu said the Speaker acknowledges that he is “number 3” in terms of the leadership structure in the country and with about a month to the end of the life of this Parliament, where he has served very well, he should not allow this development to tarnish the image of his “record.”

He said the House needs to sit to be able to receive the President’s last State of the Nation address, prepare transitional arrangements, the budget and other bills and this is the time to do all that.

The 4 MPs have not crossed carpet in this present Parliament

Touching on the reasons for which Speaker Bagbin informed the House that four members have crossed carpet and that their seats have become vacant, a matter which was presently before the Supreme Court for interpretation of Article 97, Mr Kufuor said he does not believe that it can be concluded that the said four Members of Parliament have crossed carpet in this present Parliament, since their intentions are geared towards the next Parliament, which starts on January 7, 2025.