The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has expressed grave concerns over the deepening political divisions in Ghana’s Parliament, warning that the ongoing impasse threatens the nation’s democratic foundations, economic stability, and future prospects.
Speaking at the 58th Congregation of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Saturday (30 November), the revered traditional leader highlighted the critical need for bipartisan cooperation in the governance of the country.
This comes after the Speaker rejected the Majority side’s request for a recall of Parliament. In an earlier memo written by the Majority Caucus to Mr Bagbin, Afenyo-Markin asked him to reconvene Parliament to enable them to address critical state matters and conduct government business.
However, in his response, the Speaker rejected the request to reconvene the House immediately but stated that he could only recall the House after the 7 December election.
Commenting on the development Otumfuo described the current state of parliamentary affairs as a dangerous deviation from Ghana’s proud legacy as a beacon of democracy in the ECOWAS sub-region.
“After our lofty experiences of the past three decades, how sad it is to see the impasse in our legislature,” he lamented warning that prolonged political discord could have dire consequences, particularly in light of the nation’s fragile economy.
“Our economy is not in the best shape. Whoever wins this election is going to have a battle on his hands to fix the economy… “When we send men and women to Parliament, we expect them to engage in rigorous debate but also reconcile conflicting opinions and recognise the point at which litigation becomes self-serving and valueless.”
“On the evidence of our Fourth Republic, it should be clear to all our political protagonists that no party is in a position to win an absolute majority. The successful administration of the country will require a large dose of bipartisan cooperation,” he stated.
The Asantehene cautioned against the long-term implications of the current political stalemate, warning that it could erode the bipartisan spirit necessary for effective governance. He called on all Ghanaians, political leaders, and voters to recognize the urgency of the moment.
“Every individual engaged in the current electoral process must be aware, and every voter in Ghana must know that whoever wins must be able to hit the ground running or risk the danger of a revolution of shattered dreams,” he warned.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi
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