Former NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, has expressed deep frustration over what he describes as Parliament’s growing weakness and its failure to protect the public interest.
He blamed this on his party’s disastrous performance in the 2024 general elections, which left the NPP with less than one-third of parliamentary seats.
“We had an abysmal performance in 2024. We had just less than 32% of parliamentary representation,” he told Evans Mensah on Joy News’ PM Express on Tuesday.
“If we had full numbers in Parliament, there are certain things that go through in Parliament that would not go through.”
Mr Boadu pointed to recent decisions that, in his view, showed the cost of a weakened legislature.
“For instance, they imposed a levy on petroleum products. They did it within 24 hours. There wasn’t a major critique and review of the thing that was brought because we were not enough to be able to kick against it.”
He also criticised the vetting of the new Chief Justice, describing it as “very dangerous” for Ghana’s justice system.
“Look at what happened with the vetting of the Chief Justice… a CJ who can say that he convicted, and instead of giving him 30 years, he felt that he was still young, and if you give him 30 years, he may come back to see him alive and may harm him.
“Because of that, he gave him 70 years. That is very dangerous for our body politic. It is very dangerous for our justice delivery.”
Mr Boadu said the situation raised questions about fairness and impartiality.
“If a Chief Justice will give a ruling based on his personal feelings and benefits, how many of the cases that go to him will not be determined based on his personal benefits? This is very dangerous.
“This is something that I would have expected the President to have withdrawn him, or Parliament to have rejected him.”
Reacting to the Minority’s decision to walk out of the vetting process, he defended their position.
“There’s a miscarriage of justice… the opposition made their point. The opposition feels that even the vetting wasn’t necessary because there is a case that can have an effect on what they are vetting the person for.
“We think this should have been allowed because the Constitution provides for an acting CJ. So that you can still perform his function as acting CJ till that matter before the court is cleared. That’s our position.”
He said the walkout was meant to avoid legitimising illegality.
“We walk out because we didn’t want to legitimise illegality. So that is clear. They shouldn’t have vetted him. They should have just let him go. If it turns out that the views of a nominee are injurious to the delivery of justice, must he go through?”
John Boadu insisted the current state of Parliament reflects a deeper institutional weakness.
“People who were there, aren’t they also Ghanaians? Won’t it affect them?” he asked. “I can’t imagine such a thing coming from a person who is supposed to ensure fairness and justice.”
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