Supreme Court ruling on vacant seats saga: I blame our constitution – Kpebu

“Ghana governance system is buy one, get one free.” These are the words of private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu on 3FM Sunrise on November 13.

His comment comes at the back of the Supreme Court ruling against Speaker Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, in response to a challenge brought forward by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Martin Kpebu alleged that the Supreme Court was compromised by the executive arm of government since the judges are their appointees.

“The way the decision is gone, I am lamenting our weak constitution. Because it enables our various presidents, whether NPP or NDC, to appoint Supreme Court judges that have the same ideological or philosophical viewpoint as the president. So, in a matter like this, they will vote for the president.” He bemoaned.

The private legal practitioner also called for an urgent review of the constitution to limit the powers of the executive in making appointments to critical organs of government.

“This decision of the Supreme Court yesterday underscored the urgent need for us to overhaul our constitution and take away the power of the President to appoint Supreme Court judges. Although they are vetted by Parliament, the supreme court judges are not independent.”

The Supreme Court, in the seven-member panel led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, delivered a 5-2 majority decision ruled against Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, thus upholding a challenge brought forward by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

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One’s current status in Parliament doesn’t impose restrictions on his status in a future Parliament – Asare

By Frederick Kunzote-Ani

The post Supreme Court ruling on vacant seats saga: I blame our constitution – Kpebu first appeared on 3News.

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