This comes on the back of the Supreme Court dismissing the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s application to set aside its orders staying the ruling that declared four seats vacant on October 17, 2024.
According to the Apex Court, the grounds of Speaker, Alban Bagbin’s application for the Apex Court to set aside its Order on October 18, 2024, has no merit.
The Supreme Court further stated that it would be a misapplication and misinformation for the applicant (Speaker) to say that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction.
Addressing the media, Speaker Bagbin stated that the actions and decisions of the executive and judicial arms of government seem to be conspiring to undermine the legislative branch of government.
According to him, per the constitution, happenings in parliament cannot be subject to litigation in the courts.
Mr. Bagbin further highlighted the significance of the 2020 elections, where electorates voted for equal representation in parliament thereby opting for inclusivity, collaboration, and consensus building in parliament.
He further added that electorates expect national interest to take precedence over partisan interest.
“The judiciary and the executive are seemingly colluding to weaken parliament. The decision of the Ghanaian voters in the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections is clear and loud to all the Ghanaian people. The decision is a preference for consensual and collaborative governance to a winner-take-all government. The majoritarian system of parliament, where the minority has a say but the majority has its way, was rejected by the voters.
“They rather opted for inclusivity, collaboration, and consensus building, leaving nobody behind. The equal representation of the two major parties in Ghana resulting in the composition of a hung parliament to the voters is the better way forward for our dear nation. The expectation of the voters is this will lead to the constitution of a parliament where the national interest will prevail against partisan or parochial interests,” the Speaker noted.
Mr. Bagbin further stated that he believes in the Supremacy of the Constitution and not the Supremacy of the Judiciary.
He also acknowledged that he is the first Speaker of Parliament in the history of Ghana to work in an evenly split parliament and therefore reaching a consensus has not been smooth sailing.
