Renowned legal practitioner Martín Kpebu has raised concerns over what he calls “constitutional crisis” currently facing Ghana, citing Parliament’s prolonged inability to convene and conduct business since October 22.
Speaking to Alfred Ocansey on the Keypoints on TV3 on November 9, Kpebu expressed worry over the situation, emphasizing that Ghana’s ongoing economic challenges are now compounded by a constitutional dilemma.
His remarks come in response to the Speaker of Parliament’s assurances that no crisis exists, a stance Kpebu finds “quite troubling.”
Kpebu however noted that the deadlock in Parliament largely stems from a lack of quorum, as the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) reportedly has been unable to secure sufficient attendance for a sitting.
Kpebu pointed to recent events on Thursday, November 7, as a critical moment in the stalemate, when the NPP caucus failed to show up in Parliament—a decision he attributes to their desire to avoid the embarrassment of an inadequate quorum.
The lawyer underscored a “deep division” within the NPP, explaining that the party’s leadership, particularly NPP Caucus Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has struggled to rally members to attend sessions.
Kpebu suggested that some NPP Members of Parliament are absent because they are occupied in their constituencies, where they are facing tough re-election battles, a scenario he describes as a “wind of change” sweeping across the political landscape.
While Kpebu acknowledges that recent developments suggest the crisis may be easing, he warns that the problem is likely to persist if the NPP caucus cannot overcome internal discord and mobilize its members to attend parliamentary sittings.
“The crisis seems over, but it continues to linger because Afenyo cannot marshal his ‘horses’ to come to Parliament,” he remarked, pointing to the urgency of resolving the issue to maintain the integrity of Ghana’s legislative process.
This situation, according to Kpebu, presents a constitutional challenge that threatens Ghana’s governance structure at a time when the country is already grappling with significant economic pressures.
