Political think tank, the Danquah Institute, is asking politicians to uphold the country’s constitution, institutions and the rule of law devoid of partisanship.
It made the comments following the Supreme Court’s recent judgement affirming the powers of a Deputy Speaker or any member presiding over Parliament to vote during debates.
According to the Institute, comments by members of the public regarding the judgement must be made with decorum and respect in order not to scandalize the judiciary.
In a statement, the think tank said Parliament is not above reproach and must subject itself to the laws of the country.
“The Supreme Court of Ghana has ruled that Standing Order 109(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which was made pursuant to Article 110(1) of the 1992 Constitution, and which provides that a Deputy Speaker or any other person presiding shall not retain his original vote while presiding, is unconstitutional. The full judgement has been made available, and we call on all to peruse the judgement to appreciate the rationale for the decision to declare Standing Order 109(3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament unconstitutional. We sincerely believe that Ghanaians must be made to understand that no one branch of government under our Constitution (including Parliament) is a law unto its own self. Rather, all are subject to the provisions of the Constitution as have been outlined above,” it said.
It said comments by the Minority in Parliament concerning the judgement that it is an aberration of justice and amounts to interference in the work of the judiciary were erroneous.
“It is not for nothing that the framers of our Constitution thought it wise to include Article 2 which deals with the enforcement of the Constitution… The Supreme Court is thus empowered to make orders and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for giving effect, or enabling effect to be given, to any declaration they make,” it said.
Read the full statement below:
