Samuel Atta-Akyea, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has urged for the respect of the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
He emphasized that ignoring the court’s decision would lead to lawlessness and undermine the rule of law.
In an interview on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, Mr. Atta-Akyea underscored the importance of the Speaker’s adherence to the court’s ruling as a way to protect Ghana’s democratic framework.
He stressed that following the judgment would preserve the integrity of both the parliamentary and judicial systems, ensuring stability amid political uncertainties.
Atta-Akyea pointed out the significance of upholding the Constitution, asserting that no individual, including the Speaker, could make judicial pronouncements or undermine the authority of the Constitution.
“Even the Supreme Court hasn’t gotten supremacy over the Constitution. It is what the Constitution says that we all should comply with for the sanity of our democratic dispensation,” he said. “This is very critical… It’s not the pleasure of a man to go his way.”
The Supreme Court ruling, issued on Tuesday, November 12, overturned the decision by Speaker Alban Bagbin to declare four seats vacant. The decision followed a challenge by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and in a judgment handed down on November 14, the justices emphasized that a parliamentary seat can only be considered vacant if a lawmaker switches political parties while maintaining their position in Parliament.
The ruling further stated that the Speaker’s decision would not be enforced during the current parliamentary term.
However, two justices disagreed with the ruling, arguing that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, highlighting differing interpretations of the Court’s authority on the matter.
