Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Atuguba, has cautioned Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin about the severe consequences he could face if he does not comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling. The court, in a 5-2 majority decision on Tuesday, overturned Speaker Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant, thereby reinstating the previous arrangement in Parliament.
In an exclusive interview with JoyNews’ Elton Brobbey, Justice Atuguba, who once served as acting Chief Justice, explained that should the Speaker fail to follow the court’s order, he risks a prison sentence of up to 10 years or disqualification from holding public office.
“In the face of this decision, he is bound by the decision of the Supreme Court,” Justice Atuguba stated. “It is not necessarily 10 years; it could be any term not exceeding 10 years. Beyond imprisonment, there is also a 10-year disqualification from holding public office. Even if you are a president, defiance of such an order could lead to removal,” he clarified.
The parliamentary process, however, has additional steps to address. With Parliament currently on indefinite suspension, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the NDC Member of Parliament for South Dayi, indicated that the House would need to reconvene and undergo specific procedural steps for the Supreme Court’s judgment to be enforced.
“Parliament is not a one-man entity; it is a whole organization, a state organ,” Dafeamekpor remarked. “The ruling has to go through procedural processes for it to take effect. It’s not an automatic implementation—proper procedures have to be followed,” he added.
