The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has clashed with President Akufo-Addo saying his comments on the Supreme Court's judgement is unfortunate and myopic.
According to the Speaker, he had no option than to let it out despite he resisting temptations of commenting on the issue.
In a statement sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin said "Good morning comrades. I have resisted the temptation of making a comment on the judgment of the Supreme Court on the issue of the voting rights of Deputy Speakers when presiding. But the unfortunate and myopic comment of the President has compelled me to let it out"
The Speaker further mentioned that the Supreme Court decision, is to say the least, not only an absurdity but a reckless incursion into the remit of Parliament.
He added that the trend of unanimity is equally troubling adding that it doesn't help explore and expand the country’s legal jurisprudence.
"The President's comment is myopic and unfortunately. It only goes to worsen the schism between the Executive and Parliament. The impartiality of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or Presiding Officer has been tresusured 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"
The Speaker of Parliament is appealing to the Plaintiff to go for a review.
Background
It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo noted that the decision of the Supreme Court on the voting rights of Deputy Speakers cannot amount to judicial inference in the work of Parliament.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the suggestion that Parliament is beyond the scrutiny of the Supreme Court is to suggest that Parliament is a law onto itself.
“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 are vested in Parliament, are 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,” the President said.
He continued, “There is nobody 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.”
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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