Former Attorney General Martin Amidu has issued a passionate plea for political responsibility in an article addressing the Speaker of Parliament and Ghana’s broader leadership.

As tensions run high amid the legal standoff between Parliament and the Supreme Court, the former Special Prosecutor in an article stressed the importance of stability ahead of Ghana’s December 2024 elections.

“Between now and 7 December 2024,” he writes, “everything must be done by the legislature and the executive branch particularly to lower political tensions and to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections.”

Mr Amidu’s remarks highlight his deep concern over the Speaker’s recent defiance of a Supreme Court order regarding parliamentary seats.

The Court had rejected the Speaker’s objections, reaffirming its authority and calling for smooth governance.

Martin Amidu underscored the need for Ghana’s leaders to prioritise the Constitution over political gamesmanship, noting that excessive polarisation threatens the nation’s democratic fabric.

“The Speaker needs to show cognitive maturity now,” he urged, imploring the government to avoid partisanship that could undermine public trust in Ghana’s institutions.

Mr Amidu’s call extends beyond the immediate political standoff, emphasising the enduring nature of Ghana’s democratic institutions.

“Parliaments and Governments may come and go,” he stated, “but the Republic of Ghana shall always endure.”

According to Mr Amidu, any actions that hinder the Supreme Court’s role as the “final repository of judicial power” are not only unconstitutional but could have lasting consequences on Ghana’s democratic stability.

He underscored the need to respect the judicial process, asserting that “the sanctity of the institution of the judiciary demands that every citizen gives the appointees the presumption of impartiality until there is concrete proof to the contrary.”

Martin Amidu stressed the importance of responsible leadership, calling for the Speaker to avoid “political party gamesmanship and point scoring” that he believes could “be disastrous for the general wellbeing of the citizen and the survival of the 1992 Constitution.”