Sovereignty resides with the Ghanaian people, not institutions - AG Dame

Accra, Ghana - Nov 5, 2024 - Ghana's Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has reaffirmed the country's constitutional principles, emphasizing that sovereignty resides with the people, not institutions or individuals.

Addressing the Ghana Bar Association's swearing-in ceremony, Dame underscored the Constitution as the supreme law, vesting the Judiciary with final judicial authority.

Dame's comments come amidst an ongoing legal debate surrounding the Speaker of Parliament's powers and the judiciary's role in parliamentary decisions. Recently, the Supreme Court dismissed Speaker Alban Bagbin's application to reverse a ruling blocking his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant. 

Dame urged legal practitioners to support the Judiciary, acknowledging its crucial role in sustaining Ghana's democracy.

“In this country, no institution or individual has sovereignty. In accordance with Article 1 of the Constitution, sovereignty resides in the people of Ghana and the Constitution is the supreme law of Ghana. The supreme law of Ghana has vested the Judiciary with final judicial power.

“Every individual or institution, including the person who takes precedence over all in this country – the President – is subject to the court’s powers to interpret and apply the laws of Ghana without question,” he said.

“Whatever procedures are utilised by any institution in this country for the conduct of its activity must comply with the Constitution and the laws of Ghana. A default of same will render such procedures liable to be declared by the courts as unconstitutional or illegal. It is as simple as that, and it is non-negotiable.”

“We therefore have a duty to support the Judiciary in its work, which is fundamental and crucial to the sustenance of Ghana’s democracy,” he added.

Source: Lead News Online