The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, is facing calls to accept the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning an injunction on his decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
This pressure comes as Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, the Presidential Candidate for the Movement for Change, and other influential figures have voiced concerns about the implications of his challenge to the court’s authority.
Mr Kyerematen commended Speaker Bagbin’s intent in vacating the parliamentary seats but argued that contesting the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction on this matter might be misdirected. According to him, Bagbin should comply with the injunction, then seek a swift legal resolution to minimize tensions between Parliament and the judiciary.
Mr Kyerematen argued that the Supreme Court’s injunction—which currently prevents the enforcement of Bagbin’s original ruling—should be respected as an essential step in maintaining a balance of powers and avoiding potential conflict between the branches of government.
“Bagbin must accept first the decision of the Supreme Court to grant an injunction that operates as a stay of execution of his initial order. He must accept the second decision of the Supreme Court to throw away their application,” Kyerematen advised. He further urged Bagbin to request a reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s injunction on the grounds that the case does not involve constitutional interpretation, which would keep Parliament’s decisions from being unnecessarily challenged.
Senyo Hosi, former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, also weighed in, stressing the importance of respecting judicial rulings to uphold public confidence in democracy. In a letter to Speaker Bagbin, Hosi cited the growing global disillusionment with democratic systems and highlighted Ghana’s role in setting a standard for rule of law. He cautioned that ignoring Supreme Court rulings could lead to further erosion of public trust in Ghana’s democratic institutions, especially in an era where African youth increasingly feel disillusioned by political systems that don’t appear to deliver on promises of development and equity.
“Reports of democratic recession globally and a disenchanted African youth must guide our governments and leaders,” Hosi remarked, emphasizing that Ghana’s leaders should set an example by adhering to judicial decisions.
With elections approaching, both Kyerematen and Hosi highlighted the importance of cooperation among the branches of government to avoid prolonged disputes that could disrupt democratic stability. As calls grow for Speaker Bagbin to accept the court’s ruling, the outcome of this case may set a crucial precedent for the balance of power and public trust in Ghana’s democracy.