Mahama Ayariga, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, has criticized the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s declaration that four parliamentary seats were vacant.
According to MyNewsGH on Monday, October 21, 2024, In an interview on JoyNews’ The Probe, Ayariga expressed deep concern over what he perceives as the court’s overreach into political matters, arguing that judges should possess a clearer understanding of the distinctions between legal and political issues.
Ayariga’s discontent arose from the Supreme Court’s swift intervention, which he contends should have been a parliamentary matter.
He referenced the landmark 1968 U.S. Supreme Court case Baker v. Carr, asserting that some political issues are best left to the legislative and executive branches.
“This is why we need knowledgeable people as judges at the Supreme Court. Judges who know their law,” Ayariga stated, pointing out that the American court recognized the political nature of certain decisions, acknowledging they fall outside judicial authority.
The MP criticized the court’s decision to stay the Speaker’s ruling without first considering arguments from both sides.
He cautioned that such a hasty ruling could blur the lines separating the judiciary, legislature, and executive, potentially leading to further conflicts among these branches of government.
“These kinds of clashes will continue,” he warned, emphasizing that unchecked judicial involvement in political affairs could escalate tensions.
The controversy began when Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant, a ruling promptly challenged by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Supreme Court.
The court’s decision to reverse Bagbin’s declaration has heightened tensions, particularly among politicians like Ayariga, who argue that the judiciary is encroaching on legislative responsibilities.
He contended that allowing the legislature to address its own disputes without immediate judicial interference would have been a more suitable approach to maintaining the balance of power among the government
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