Former Attorney General Martin Amidu has accused Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, of defying the Supreme Court, creating a crisis that may hinder parliamentary cooperation for years.
On November 12, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled Speaker Bagbin’s October 17 declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant was unconstitutional.
Despite two previous court orders issued on October 18 and October 30 to halt this action, Bagbin proceeded.
The Speaker’s behaviour, Martin Amidu labelled as disrespectful to the judiciary, in an article on Wednesday, November 13, available to Metro TV.
Martin Amidu claims that Bagbin’s public statements and actions, especially on November 6, disregarded the court’s authority and escalated tensions between Parliament and the judiciary.
Amidu emphasized that court decisions must be respected until legally overturned, arguing that Bagbin’s stance has threatened the foundational principles of Ghana’s legal system.
With Parliament adjourned indefinitely on November 7, Amidu questioned if Bagbin would “eat humble pie” and reconvene Parliament to comply with the court’s ruling.
The former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice further challenged Bagbin’s motivations, suggesting his actions were politically motivated and not in the nation’s best interest.
Amidu criticized Bagbin for allowing younger political influences to sway his decisions, leading to what he observed as unnecessary disruption within Parliament.
He argues that this defiance has wasted valuable legislative time and may impair collaboration between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in future parliamentary sessions.
With Parliament’s limited time to address national issues before the December 7 elections, Amidu warned that Bagbin’s actions might impact legislative and executive relations in the long run.
He urged Ghanaian leaders to prioritize national unity and respect for judicial authority over political agendas.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has accused the Judiciary and Executive of undermining the authority of Parliament.
Bagbin raised serious concerns over what he described as interference and a growing power struggle between the two arms of government.
According to him, the judiciary and executive’s recent actions directly challenge the jurisdiction and powers of Parliament, which he called the “repository of the sovereign will of the people of Ghana.”
By: Ernest Kepomey | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
Have a news story, press release, or opinion piece you’d like to share with our audience? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at editor@metrotvonline.com
