The Director of Legal Affairs for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gary Nimako Marfo, has called for a diplomatic approach to resolve the standoff between the NPP and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucuses in Parliament.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile on Saturday, Mr Nimako underscored the need for cooler heads and collaboration from both parties to ease the deadlock.

“Tempests must come down. We must find a better approach. We must be diplomatic in both the minority and the majority sides,” he stated.

Rising tensions in Parliament started over Speaker Alban Bagbin's decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.

The political friction escalated on October 18 after the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on Speaker Bagbin’s ruling, which declared the four seats vacant.

The court directed that the affected MPs be recognised and allowed to carry out their full duties in Parliament, yet the NDC caucus remained resolute in its claim to majority status. When Parliament resumed on October 23, MPs from both sides occupied the majority seats, ultimately leading NPP MPs to walk out in protest.

During the tense proceedings, Speaker Bagbin acknowledged the court’s directive but adjourned Parliament indefinitely, leaving the future of the House uncertain.

Mr Nimako, reflecting on the situation, pointed out the urgency of addressing the issues diplomatically, particularly as the NDC sought to form committees and amend policies like the betting tax and E-levy.

“Afenyo Markin (NPP caucus leader) had to do something about it,” he said.

“The Supreme Court saved the country by staying Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision on declaring the four seats vacant.”