Speaker Bagbin fights Akufo-Addo

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed disappointment in a recent comment made by President Akufo-Addo describing Parliament as not beyond the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. 

According to him, the President’s assertion over the decision of the Supreme Court on the voting rights of Deputy Speakers is myopic and unfortunate.

This comes after the President commenting on the Supreme Court’s judgment that declared Deputy Speakers of having the capacity to vote while presiding said, “I’m not sure people who are saying this have actually taken the time to read the Constitution of our country. It says so in Black and white. The legislative powers of the State, which is vested in Parliament, is subject to the provisions of the Constitution. All organs of the Ghanaian State, including me as the Head of the Executive, we are all subject to the teachings of the Constitution”.

He continued, “There is no body in the Ghanaian State that is above the fundamental law of the land. It will lead to the very matter that we have striven so long to avoid – the concentration of unregulated power in our state – we don’t want that. And we brought about this Constitution to allow that to not reoccur.”

Mr. Bagbin in his response indicated that, the President’s view creates disaffection between the Legislature and the Judiciary.

“The unfortunate and myopic comment of the President has compelled me to let it out. The SC decision, is to say the least, not only an absurdity but a reckless incursion into the remit of Parliament. The trend of unanimity is equally troubling. It doesn’t help explore and expand our legal jurisprudence”.

“The President’s comment is myopic and unfortunate. It only goes to worsen the schism between the Executive and Parliament. The impartiality of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or Presiding Officer has been pressured and fought for by this country throughout our democratic development.

“Mr. President, the issue being discussed is not about Parliament being above the law. Everyone knows that Parliament is not above the law. The Executive and the Judiciary are equally not above the law. The issue being discussed is the political question doctrine. It took centuries to detail out the strands of this doctrine and the principles are settled as to when and how this closed book could be opened,” he added.