The Speaker Is Trying to Protect The Integrity of the Parliament – Lawyer Abass Nurudeen
Lawyer Abass has strongly supported Speaker of Parliament Hon. Alban Bagbin, following Bagbin’s recent comments on the ongoing vacant seat controversy. He argued, ‘ that Bagbin’s actions aim to protect the integrity of parliament as another arm of government’.
In an interview on the Maakye Show with Kwabena Owusu Dankwa, Abass condemned the Speaker’s critics, particularly those within the judiciary. He accused the Supreme Court of consistently siding with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The constitution of Ghana enshrines the principle of separation of powers, and, according to him, each branch should operate without undue influence from the others.
He cited Article 93, which states that Parliament is a master of its own rules, suggesting that as long as the legislative body operates within constitutional standards, the courts have no grounds for intervention.
In his argument, Abass referenced Bagbin’s recent comments on judiciary overreach, which reflect Bagbin’s concerns that both the judiciary and executive branches seek to weaken the powers of Parliament. “This is evident,” he said, “especially when we see the Chief Justice’s actions involving government matters.
The Afrobarometer survey even reflects this by showing diminishing public trust in the judiciary, leading people to resort to unorthodox means like curses or mob action to resolve issues.”
Lawyer Abass warned against what he sees as consistent interventions by the judiciary in favor of the NPP.
He highlighted a recent instance where the Court called five justices to hear and immediately rule in favor of the NPP government, suggesting a clear judicial bias.
He argued that, the constitution grants Parliament the power to operate independently, without interference from other branches, including the Supreme Court. “The judiciary should not attempt to overpower Parliament under the guise of constitutional supremacy,” he said.
He also took aim at the NPP’s handling of its internal policies, pointing to the treatment of the Fomena MP who, after running as an independent candidate, lost his rights and privileges within the party. Abass claims this shows a lack of principle in the NPP and is symptomatic of the party’s alleged disregard for democratic integrity.
He emphasized that the constitution clearly states that after parliamentary decisions are made, the president must either sign them or explicitly state his objections, not rely on judicial interventions.
He concluded that, “The problem is not the Speaker,”, praising Bagbin as a patriot who has shown unparalleled statesmanship and dedication to national interests, even when he faced criticism from within his own party.
Story by: Joyce Owusu Dankwah
