Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has accused the country’s judiciary and executive branches of colluding to weaken the authority of Parliament, warning of a deepening power struggle among the branches of government.

His comments follow a recent Supreme Court ruling, which upheld an earlier decision preventing him from declaring four parliamentary seats vacant. This ruling has intensified debates about the constitutional limits of the Speaker’s authority and the role of the judiciary in parliamentary matters.

Bagbin had filed a legal challenge against the Supreme Court’s intervention, arguing that Parliament, as an independent arm of government, should hold exclusive control over its internal decisions. He sought to nullify a writ from Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, which urged the judiciary to block further declarations on the contested seats.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Bagbin accused the Judiciary and Executive of encroaching on the autonomy of the Legislature, warning that this interference could pose a threat to Ghana’s democracy.

He argued that the authority of Parliament, especially in internal matters, should be free from judicial oversight. “The current situation is a dangerous precedent that threatens the principle of separation of powers enshrined in Ghana’s Constitution,” Bagbin said.

The Speaker called on Ghanaians to protect the independence of each branch of government, stressing that the Legislature’s autonomy is essential for safeguarding democratic values.

“These issues resemble a power play, with the potential to destabilize our democratic foundations and subvert the constitutional powers Ghanaians have fought to establish,” he warned.

Source:TheDotNews