The Planning Committee of the 150th anniversary celebration of the Supreme Court (SC), on Wednesday, paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Bagbin.
This was to formally invite him to participate in the event and also brief him on the activities lined-up for the celebration.
Some of the activities include lecture series, media engagements, a health walk, legal outreach, and education programmes.
The committee was led by the chairperson, Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, a Supreme Court judge.
Other dignitaries present include the Clerk to Parliament, Reverend Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, and directors of the various departments in Parliament.
During the meeting with the Committee members, Mr Bagbin, underscored the need for the legislature and the judiciary to work together to deepen its understanding of the Standing Orders of Parliament and the rule of law to clear the misunderstanding that sometimes surrounds those rules.
He also highlighted the contributions of both past and present judges of the Supreme Court in strengthening and consolidating Ghana’s democracy, while emphasising the importance of research in enhancing the work of the judicial service.
Mr Bagbin further bemoaned the work load on the Supreme Court due to the number of cases that were referred to it, indicating that such work load lowered its value.
He thanked the Committee for selecting him to deliver a lecture on the theme, “A Supreme Court in the life of the 1992 Constitution: Taking stock and looking forward.”
Mr Bagbin also expressed Parliament’s readiness to fully attend and participate in all outlined activities to mark the celebration which will span from July 2 to July 31, 2026.
Justice Adjei-Frimpong commended the Speaker for his contribution to the country’s democratic development and pledged the Judiciary’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the legislature.
He also welcomed Mr Bagbin’s proposal to organise workshops on parliamentary procedures and the administration of justice.
“A couple of weeks ago, I was part of a technical team trying to review our rules of service, and when we got to the service of processes on Members of Parliament, I must admit that we struggled, and it dawned on me that it is one area that the judiciary and Parliament must sit down and look at,” Justice Adjei-Frimpong said.
In other related development, Mr Bagbin has argued that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which was recently passed by Parliament, can still be brought back for reconsideration through a motion of rescission.
A motion of rescission is a formal proposal to annul, repeal or reverse a previous decision, resolution or vote taken by Parliament.
According to Mr Bagbin, some lawyers had recently challenged his directive for Parliament to reconsider the bill, arguing that it was unconstitutional for a bill already passed by the House to be returned for further consideration.
However, the Speaker maintained that Parliament had, on several occasions, revisited bills after passage when inconsistencies or errors were identified.
He also noted that the Constitution does not prescribe a time limit within which Parliament must transmit a passed bill to the President for assent.
Mr Bagbin further cited the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, which was passed in March, saying a motion of rescission would be used to reverse it.
“So, it’s not really the law that once the Speaker presiding says the bill is read a third time and passed, Parliament is functus officio,” he stated.
BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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