By Edzorna Francis Mensah
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has vowed to protect the integrity of parliament, democracy, and good governance. He assured Ghanaians that no person will be allowed to disrupt parliamentary proceedings under his watch.
According to him, he was has sworn an oath to defend the constitution of Ghana at all time by setting the record straight that, “there’s no constitutional crisis in Ghana” and that Parliament is alive and working, as he noted that, democracy is about the rule of law and people must allow the system to work, “my mission is to lead parliament stronger institutions than I came to meet”.
Addressing Journalists in parliament on the consequences of litigation on proceedings of Parliament in court, Speaker Alban Bagbin, a Parliament that understands, reflects, and embodies the will of the people and defends its constitutional prerogatives only works in the interest of Ghana and Ghanaians. Not a rubber stamp Parliament, subservient to the whims and caprices of the Executive and/or the Judiciary.
“I am confident the battles we are fighting today will make our democracy stronger and more vibrant in the future. I believe in the supremacy of the Constitution, mark my words, the supremacy of the Constitution, not the supremacy of the Judiciary or Supreme Court. I also believe in a vibrant Parliament that is respected and accorded its due on political questions as long established by law and decided cases” he added.
He described as worrying “despite these provisions, the Courts are replete with debates and proceedings of Parliament. Most worrying is, these proceedings are initiated by some members of Parliament and even, leaders of Parliament, who ought to know better”.
He mentioned that, the Parliamentarians who are to be loyal to Parliament rather run to the Supreme Court at the slightest opportunity, to use the Supreme Court to undermine Parliament.
“This might be one of the reasons Parliament and MPs are not respected and treated with disdain. This was exhibited by the President’s refusal to even receive the LGBTQ+ Bill duly processed and passed by Parliament. The Judiciary is supportive of such a conduct by the receipt and processing of a suit on this subject matter. These are dangerous precedents in our democratic journey. They have sinned against the Constitution and must seek the opportunity to confess and repent to be forgiven”, he noted.
