Kpandai Parliamentary Row Driven by Politics
Political Scientist Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante has attributed the ongoing tensions in Parliament surrounding the Kpandai election case to political maneuvering rather than legal principles.
Speaking on the AM Show on Wednesday, December 10, Dr. Asah-Asante stated that the Majority Leader’s comments indicated a clear shift towards political tactics.
“From what I listened to from the majority leader… my understanding is that it’s nothing but pure politics and tactics that they employ, other than law,” he said.
Dr. Asah-Asante emphasized that parliamentary actions hold no sway over court rulings. “Whatever decision they took in Parliament, if the court pronounces today otherwise, or contrary to what they are saying, the decision of the court will remain the same,” he explained.
He described the confrontations within the chamber as unnecessary and driven by political considerations. “I do not see the point of that attitude… that unruly behaviour in Parliament is needless. It’s nothing but politics,” he reiterated.
According to Dr. Asah-Asante, even if Parliament attempts to declare an MP persona non grata, a court ruling in the MP’s favour would supersede that decision. “You can declare the person persona non grata in Parliament, but the court will reinstate the person if the court deems it fit,” he noted.
He criticized the excessive political posturing, stating, “All these things are unnecessary, very, very unnecessary,” and insisting that the actions were “nothing but political decisions, other than legal decisions.”
Addressing the normalization of confrontations, Dr. Asah-Asante pointed to the numerical balance in Parliament as a contributing factor. “If you look at the numbers in Parliament… the minority can do their best, but the majority will have their way because of the numbers.
“Every time you see the majority bulldozing their way through using their numbers, you can’t help it. That is the situation on the ground,” he explained.
Dr. Asah-Asante urged both sides of the House to prioritize cooperation and consensus for the benefit of the nation. “If we really, as a society, want to make the best use of the numbers in Parliament for the best of our people, then there must be cooperation, there must be consensus… to ensure the survival of government business, and by extension, satisfaction of our interests,” he said.
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