Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, a Senior Lecturer in Constitutional Law at the University of Ghana School of Law, has voiced concerns regarding the growing trend of seeking legal solutions for political disputes within Parliament.
In an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Dr. Srem-Sai emphasized that parliamentary conflicts are fundamentally political in nature and should be resolved through dialogue, negotiation, and diplomacy rather than legal intervention.
His remarks come in the wake of rising tensions in Parliament following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, igniting a fierce dispute between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucuses.
On October 18, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution regarding Speaker Bagbin’s ruling, which had declared the seats vacant. The Court directed that the affected MPs should be recognized as able to carry out their duties, effectively instructing Parliament to allow them to represent their constituencies fully.
Despite the Court’s ruling, the NDC caucus refused to concede its claim to the majority. When Parliament reconvened on Tuesday, October 23, both NDC and NPP MPs occupied the majority side of the chamber, reflecting the ongoing standoff. The situation escalated when NPP MPs walked out, leaving their NDC counterparts to occupy the majority seats.
During the proceedings, Speaker Bagbin acknowledged receipt of the Supreme Court’s stay of execution but adjourned Parliament indefinitely, creating uncertainty about the future of the House.
Dr. Srem-Sai commented on these developments, expressing alarm over the increasing reliance on the courts to settle parliamentary disputes. He stated, “When there is conflict in Parliament, it is a political conflict, and politics must always be resolved by political means. By ‘political means,’ I mean deliberations, negotiations, discussions, and diplomacy.”
He further articulated his discomfort with individuals rushing to court over matters arising within Parliament, warning that such actions tend to legalize what should be a political process.
According to Dr. Srem-Sai, the frequent use of legal avenues complicates rather than resolves political conflicts. He noted, “Sometimes, we misunderstand the issues. We think they are legal when they are not.”
