Inusah Fuseini, the former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, has weighed in on the ongoing conflict between Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and the Supreme Court as reported by Peace FM Online on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
Fuseini emphasized that, despite any personal disagreement, Speaker Bagbin must respect the ruling of the highest court of the land.
The Supreme Court recently ruled in a 5-2 decision that Speaker Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant was unconstitutional.
The court’s ruling, issued on November 12, 2024, has sparked debate, with Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo clarifying that the Speaker’s declaration could not stand.
“By court in a majority decision of five two, Lovelace Johnson JSC and Amadu Tanko JSC dissenting on the issue of jurisdiction, the plaintiff’s action succeeds the full reasons and orders of the court shall be filed with the registrar by close of date, tomorrow, 13th, November 2024,” the Chief Justice announced following the ruling.
Inusah Fuseini, speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ program, stressed that even if Speaker Bagbin disagreed with the Supreme Court’s decision, he was legally bound to comply.
“Though Speaker Bagbin may not agree with the ruling of the highest court of the land, he cannot also say he will not obey.
The Supreme Court is the highest court of the land and that every decision made must be respected,” Fuseini stated.
Fuseini, acknowledging the Speaker’s role in the legislative process, said that the finality of the Supreme Court’s ruling should settle the matter.
“In as much as the Speaker of Parliament, on a precedent and by law, the final determination of the Supreme Court should put every matter to rest, and I’m not sure the Speaker will want to disobey the Supreme Court,” he added.
