Alban Bagbin Must Cease This Shameful Mockery Of His Office

To dismiss the authority of the Supreme Court in constitutional interpretation is sheer folly, a baseless stance that suggests a willful blindness to democratic principles. For a politician of Alban Bagbin’s experience to undermine the Supreme Court’s role as the final arbiter of constitutional matters reeks of both absurdity and manipulation. Is Bagbin, as supposedly endowed with the capacity to reason as he is, truly unable to recognize the gravity of his words,or is he allowing the younger, more impulsive voices within his own party, the NDC, to steer his actions and sully his legacy? This embarrassing spectacle of indirect control has cast him as a puppet in the hands of partisan forces.

The Constitution assigns specific powers to each branch of government, and yet Bagbin’s recent behavior betrays an astonishing disregard for these foundational principles. His comments hint at a larger agenda, seemingly engineered by the 'bantam boys' of his party who tug at his strings, exploiting his position to advance their narrow interests. For a man with decades of experience, it is disheartening to witness how he has become entangled in their schemes, allowing them to turn him into a spokesperson for petty grievances rather than a steward of impartial governance. Our Supreme Court is the guardian of constitutional values, and without its interpretive power, democracy itself would crumble. Many are beginning to think in their estimation,the Speaker’s apparent ignorance and unwillingness to respect the Court’s authority, hints that he has traded sapiance for appeasement, content to play a role shaped by his party’s younger strategists.

The Supreme Court’s purpose is not to hinder democracy but to strengthen it by upholding the rule of law. The Constitution’s framers understood this, granting the Court the authority to ensure constitutional fidelity across all branches of government. The Court's interpretations not only settle disputes but safeguard against authoritarianism,a legacy forged through historical struggle. This was vividly illustrated in *Tuffour v. Attorney-General*, where the Court underscored its mandate to uphold constitutional provisions over any other entity, including Parliament. But for Bagbin, it seems the directives of a few influential but inexperienced party members outweigh the very Constitution he pledged to uphold.

Alban Bagbin’s recent remarks reveal a gross misunderstanding of these principles and an utter disrespect for his oath to serve impartially. Is it not the same Supreme Court he once relied upon when the NDC contested the 2020 elections, to arbitrate on behalf of his party? He didn’t question the Court’s legitimacy then,so why now? This inconsistency hints at his willingness to sacrifice Ghana’s judicial foundations to appease the whims of his party’s younger, less experienced members. Bagbin, with all his years of public service, now allows these “little boys” to dictate his stance, reducing the stature of the Speakership in the process.

The Speaker’s stance disrespects the judiciary and risks destabilizing the very structure of our democratic government. If Bagbin’s claims were accepted, any politician could choose to disregard constitutional rulings, eroding the Supreme Court’s authority and leaving Ghana vulnerable to arbitrary rule. In the U.S., the case of *Marbury v. Madison* established judicial review, affirming that the judiciary must have the final say on constitutional interpretation. Ghana’s democracy similarly rests on the Supreme Court’s ability to interpret our laws impartially. Bagbin’s view, if unchecked, would make a mockery of our democracy. Ironically, this feeble stance only serves to underscore his weak grasp on his role, an elder seemingly dominated by the inexperienced.

Bagbin’s conduct is especially hypocritical given his own reliance on judicially secured democracy. His current posturing seems more like an attempt to shield his party’s interests than to uphold democratic norms. When Bagbin took office, he swore an oath to serve all Ghanaians impartially. Yet, with his recent statements, he has clearly strayed from that promise. The younger members of the NDC have commandeered his platform, using his position to channel their own agendas. As Speaker, he should embody impartiality, standing above party lines. Instead, he has adopted a blatantly partisan stance, abandoning the very impartiality he pledged to uphold.

It raises the question: Has Bagbin truly ceded his judgment to his party’s younger, more impulsive figures? Does he believe he can disregard the Constitution and wield the powers of Parliament for political gain? His attacks on the judiciary’s independence demonstrate a level of arrogance unbecoming of someone who has served in Parliament for decades. In *Ex parte Awuni v. Attorney-General*, the Supreme Court reinforced its authority, making clear that the rule of law cannot be compromised for political expediency. Bagbin would do well to remember this precedent and consider the dangers of undermining the judiciary for partisan ends. This moment is a stark reminder of how quickly power can cloud even a seasoned politician’s judgment, particularly when he chooses to let himself be maneuvered by those far less experienced.

Ghanaians should demand better. A Speaker who disregards his own constitutional responsibilities while allowing himself to be manipulated by a cadre of younger party operatives should not be trusted to serve the people. Bagbin’s conduct is an affront to Ghana’s principles of governance and a betrayal of his duty to act as a neutral arbiter. If he cannot uphold his duty independently, he should step aside and let someone committed to impartial service take his place. Ghanaians deserve a Speaker who serves the nation, not the designs of a younger, partisan faction seeking to control him.

By: Dickson Mills

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