Stop undermining Parliament with Supreme Court appeals, it's why we are not respected- Bagbin

Accra, Ghana - Nov 6, 2024 - Ghana's Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has voiced his disappointment over the growing trend of legislators seeking the Supreme Court's intervention on parliamentary issues. This, he believes, undermines the authority and respect of the legislative body. 

Bagbin's concerns were made public during a press conference on November 6, 2024, where he urged lawmakers to demonstrate greater loyalty to Parliament and limit appeals to external judicial intervention.

Call to Action

The Speaker's plea comes in response to Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin's recent injunction application at the Supreme Court. This application was filed in reaction to the Minority's petition for the Speaker to declare the seats of some candidates vacant. Bagbin pointed out that this is not an isolated incident, citing other instances where members of the Majority have turned to the Supreme Court to resolve internal parliamentary issues.

Damage to Parliament's Standing

Bagbin described this trend as damaging to Parliament's standing, emphasizing that it reflects a lack of confidence within the institution itself. "Parliamentarians who are to be loyal to Parliament rather than to the Supreme Court run to the Supreme Court at the slightest opportunity to use the Supreme Court to undermine Parliament," he stated.

Consequences of External Intervention

The Speaker warned that this reliance on external intervention might be why Parliament and its members are not respected and are treated with disdain. He encouraged MPs to recognize their duty to Parliament first and suggested strengthening internal mechanisms to prevent external interference and bolster the institution's integrity.

Most worrying is that these proceedings are initiated by some members of parliament, even leaders of Parliament, who ought to know better,” he stated.

“This might be one of the reasons Parliament and members of Parliament are not respected and are treated with disdain.”

Previous Advocacy

Earlier, Bagbin proposed capping the number of Supreme Court Justices amid new nominations, advocating for a law to limit the number of justices. This move aims to promote efficiency and accountability within the judicial system.

Source: Lead News Online