Our seamless path to fortifying our Democratic Culture of the fourth republic gave the citizens another opportunity to elect their political leaders to manage the country’s affairs.
It also gives them hope, good leadership, and direction.
After the exit of President JA Kufour in December 2008, there was another opportunity to elect his successor..
In December 2008, Ghanaians went to the polls for another political contest.
The combatants in the election were once again the two known political parties, the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
These two political parties continued to dominate the political environment/landscape of our country. They have almost similar ideologies to the two main parties in the United Kingdom: the Conservative and the Labour Parties and in the USA, The Republicans and the Democrats.
The New Patriotic Party aligns with the Conservatives and the Republicans, whilst the National Democratic Congress does that with the Democrats and the Labour Parties respectively.
The NDC led by Professor Atta Mills with John Mahama being his running mate defeated Nana Akufo who also had Dr Mahamoudu Bawumia as his running mate.
The election ran into the third round and the Tain Constituency in the then Brong Ahafo Region became the decider.
The NDC was elected and President Atta Mills took over as the President.
The Parliament elected a retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Joyce Bamford Addo as the Speaker of the House. She became the fourth Speaker of the fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic. She was ably supported by Hon Edward Doe Adjaho as the First Deputy Speaker.
The second Deputy Speaker of that Parliament was Rev Professor Mike Oquaye.
It must be noted that the NDC had the Majority seats in that Parliament and therefore would nominate and appoint a first Deputy Speaker according to the Standing Orders of the House.
Prof Atta Mills was seen by many as a calm leader. He was also given the accolade of a peaceful political leader.
Sadly, he kicked the bucket in the fourth year of his first term.
He was quickly succeeded by his Vice, John Dramani Mahama who was sworn in to continue with the tenure of his late boss. This was done in accordance with the 1992 Constitution.
John Dramani Mahama took over and the Constitution entreated him to nominate someone to be his Vice.
He nominated Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, a former Governor of the Bank of GH and a one-time Deputy Minister of Finance. He appeared before the Appointment Committee of the House to be vetted.
He sailed through the vetting process and was subsequently sworn in as the Vice-President.
John Dramani Mahama completed the tenure of his late boss and was re-elected in the subsequent Presidential elections in 2013. He had a political showdown with veteran Nana Akufo Addo. It was a fiercely contested election as Akufo Addo didn’t want to lose again.
Mahama’s victory was contested or challenged in the Supreme Court, the appropriate forum for Presidential election disputes.
The legal dispute lasted about eight months.
The final verdict was delivered in favour of John Dramani Mahama and his National Democratic Congress.
The world applauded Ghana and the New Patriotic Party for using the legal process to settle their dispute.
Nana Addo accepted the verdict of the court and congratulated John Dramani Mahama.
The Parliament was the sixth Parliament and it was headed by Rt Hon Edward Doe Adjaho. He was then the elected Member of Parliament for Akatsi North. He had to resign his seat after he was elected the Speaker. It was an optional decision.
A bye-election was held and the National Democratic Congress easily retained the seat.
Hon Barton Oduro, MP for Cape Coast North was his first Deputy Speaker and Professor Mike Oquaye was the second Deputy Speaker.
It must be stressed that all Speakers must demonstrate objectivity, impartiality, fairness and neutrality.These traits are very important in the affairs of the House.
Parliament is the citadel of Democracy and the members represent the citizens.
All Presidents- elect must be sworn in before Parliament.
Ahmed
The Servant