Alan Kyerematen Criticizes Supreme Court and Parliament Impasse as Unwarranted.

Accra: Mr. Alan Kyerematen, Founder and Leader of the Movement for Change (M4C), has expressed strong disapproval of the ongoing impasse between Ghana's Supreme Court and Parliament, describing it as unwarranted, unjustifiable, unproductive, and detrimental to the country's emerging democracy. He emphasized the necessity for both institutions to adhere to the Constitution and the Laws of Ghana. According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kyerematen, who is also the Presidential Candidate for the Alliance for Revolutionary Change (ARC), articulated his views in a statement addressing the contentious issues between the Supreme Court and Parliament. He highlighted the importance of the separation of powers and checks and balances among different government branches, noting that these principles should guide the resolution of the dispute. Mr. Kyerematen criticized the Supreme Court's decision regarding Alexander Afenyo-Markin's application, which sought to overturn the Speaker's decision concerning four Members of Parl iament. He described the court's ruling as unconstitutional and an overreach of authority under Article 130(1) of the Ghanaian Constitution. He further disputed the view of retired Supreme Court Justice Atuguba, who believed the Court should have declined jurisdiction in the matter. He argued that Article 97 (1) (g) and (h) of the Constitution were clear and did not require interpretation by the Supreme Court. Mr. Kyerematen raised concerns about potential interference by the Court in parliamentary functions. Emphasizing the Rule of Law and Article 133 (1) of the Constitution, Mr. Kyerematen stated that only the Supreme Court itself can review and vary its decisions. He urged that any party dissatisfied with a Supreme Court decision should seek revision through the Court. Mr. Kyerematen cautioned that Parliament would be violating the law if it refused to accept the Supreme Court's ruling. He acknowledged Parliament's decision to apply for a review of the Court's decision, albeit belatedly, but criticized the legal basis for the action and the remedies sought. In his statement, Mr. Kyerematen supported the Speaker of Parliament's decision to declare four seats vacant and to recognize the Minority Caucus as the Majority Caucus, contingent upon a favorable Supreme Court ruling for Parliament in the ongoing case. With the elections approaching in four weeks, Mr. Kyerematen called on all parties and citizens to work towards resolving the issue to ensure a peaceful election process in December 2024.