Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has refuted claims that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter when it comes to issues bordering on the laws of the country.
The Supreme Court has been challenged by some notable people in Parliament and the soceity following its verdict that a Deputy Speaker of Parliament is a Member of Parliament and can actively take part in decision-making in the House.
The court specifically said a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a Member of Parliament for quorum" and can "vote and take part in the decision of Parliament".
Some critics have agreed to the court ruling while others also share dissenting views.
Critics like former President John Mahama, Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George and Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu among others, who object to the court decision, describe the verdict as ''shocking'', ''despicable'', ''sham'' and a support for the e-levy proposal by the current administration.
With critics like President Nana Akufo-Addo, STC Boss Nana Akomea and others, who agree to the verdict, the Supreme Court has finally settled the dispute and their ruling holds.
However, they direct the opposition to seek review of the verdict from the Apex Court.
President Akufo-Addo, declaring his position, said "the legislative power of Parliament [that is vested] that is of the State which is vested in Parliament is subject to the provisions of the constitution. All organs of the Ghanaian State including me as the Head of Executive, we are all subject to the teachings of the constitution. There is nobody in the Ghanaian State that is above the fundamental law of the land".
He added that, ''if they are denied the right to vote, [it will mean] it is tantamount to denying the right of the people you represent to have a say in the decision of the Assembly. That will not be right. So, I couldn't understand all this furore and controversy artificially generated".
Wading into the discussions on the Supreme Court ruling, Kwesi Pratt sought to disabuse the minds of Ghanaians regarding the seeming absolute authority vested in the Supreme Court to adjudicate cases.
He further accentuated that, ''the Supreme Court has never been or will never be the final authority on anything including the law. The Supreme Court exercises the power of the people. The Supreme Court acts in the name of the people. We have apportioned our sovereignty to the Supreme Court. So, ultimately, it is the people of Ghana who are the supreme-authority''.
Mr. Pratt also argued that the Supreme Court can be abolished by Ghanaians.
''The constitution itself, it has provisions for amendment. Am I lying? So, at any time, the people of Ghana can decide to amend the constitution. Indeed, the people of Ghana, they have a right to abolish the Supreme Court [yes] and set up something in its place. The Supreme Court, as currently constituted, is a constitutional creature; so, if you change the constitution, you can change the provisions on the establishment of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court will become a new creature.''
He strongly held that assertion that the ''Supreme Court is the final authority and so on, [it] is not true. It cannot be true at least at the level of theory because they are acting in our name''.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Absurdity of the highest order. Fast forward Mr Pratt as a panelist on the show feels he has rights and takes any attempt to impede his thoughts seriously. So how ironic and hypocritical can he be in claiming an elected MP by his people can not vote? Remember the wikileaks and smoking? Hmmm
OH NDC IGNOOOORACE IS DEASE SO WHAT ARE THEY TELLING THE YOUTH IN GHANA IGNOOOOORANCE UNRULLY, ARROOOOGANT. THIS CASE WAS CLEAR AS A DAYLIGHT SO WHY ARE STILL CANNOT UNDERSTAND, IS THE SAME IN GHANA, SAME IN AUSTRALIA,CANADA, AMERICA, BRITAIN, KENYA, SOUTH AFRICA. EVEN A STUDENT MARKING CLASS REGISTER WILL MARK STUDENTS IN THE CLASS WHO ARE PRENT AND MARK HIMSELF TOO SO WHERE DO THESE NDC UNDUCATED NEED TO UNDERSTAN LOOOOOOSERS LEADERS. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU WILL SEE IT. THEY STILL TALKING TO MEDIA THAT THEY WILL NOT AGREED TO IT IN PARLIAMENT. IT A SHAME WE HAVE A PARTY THAT IS SO IGNOOOOORANT THAT IS NOT FUNNY. EVEN SO CALLED LAWYERS AMONG IS VERY SICCK. NDC SO IGNOOOOOOORANT, LOOOOOOOOSERS THEY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTANT THE CONSTITUTION, CANNOT EVEN INTERPRATE THE LAW. AGAIN INEVERYTHING THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION EXCEPT CRITISIMS SUCH LOOOOOOSERS LEADERS AND LOOOOOTERS.
K. Pratt and reality is an oxymoron. Dear PeaceFM why do you continue to facilitate the miseducation of the gullible by Pratt.
Blue kiosk talk
Hmmmm. So empty… No wonder JDM failed miserably because you were one of his top advisors
I wonder why just a single common sense ruling has turn Mr Pratt to a talkative with no water holding argument. You are using if the people decide to abolish the constitution but now that the people have not decided so is the supreme court not final? If the people also decide to abolish parliament, will parliament have any powers. Long article but full of nothing sir
You are not serious… you have lost it just retire.
Mr. Pratt, I think we should rather abolish the Judiciary as a whole and rather live like animals in the jungle