In an open letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors and social commentator, Senyo Hosi has urged him to respect the rulings of the Supreme Court, warning of the perils of undermining judicial authority.
Titled “Rest The Hawk, Save Our Democracy,” Senyo Hosi’s letter cautioned the Speaker against disregarding the Court’s ruling in the Afenyo Markin vs. Speaker case, emphasizing that doing so could set a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s democracy.
“Mr Speaker, following the dismissal of your motion to have the Supreme Court vacate its orders in the Afenyo Markin vs. The Speaker case, there are many expecting that you will ignore the apex court and proceed in an assertive fashion.
“Well, you may do that, perhaps with limited consequences for your person as the rest of us would have faced if we disobeyed the Supreme Court. But that may be High Crime. One that must be punished irrespective of whose ox is gored”.
Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors
The letter reflected on a recent appeal he made to the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, about the judiciary’s image and the importance of preserving public trust in the institution.
He argued that a sustained erosion of public confidence in the judiciary is a threat to the stability of Ghana’s democratic order.
Democratic Regression and Rising Youth Disenchantment
Pointing to the widespread global trends of democratic regression and rising youth disenchantment with political structures, Senyo Hosi stressed the importance of vigilance in maintaining the pillars of Ghana’s 30-year-old Fourth Republic.
The letter emphasized the vital role the Supreme Court plays as the final arbiter in Ghana’s judicial system. Senyo Hosi argued strongly that in order to safeguard national stability, the Court must have the authority to resolve conflicts across all branches of government.
He warned that a show of disregard by Parliament’s leadership for the Supreme Court’s rulings could inspire similar lawlessness among other government agencies and, potentially, even the general public, threatening the cohesion of the state itself.
“For the sustenance of governance and the progress of the State, conflicts cannot be allowed to continue in perpetuity,” he underscored, adding that the framers of the 1992 Constitution conferred “counter-majoritarian powers” upon the Court to preserve national stability even in the face of controversial rulings.
Though he acknowledged the frustrations inherent in certain judicial decisions, Senyo Hosi pointed out that lawful channels for addressing perceived judicial errors exist.
“Your disrespect of the court’s decision will set a dangerous precedent and disturb the harmony in our governance institutions. Can you imagine the anarchy of having the various arms of government opt to disregard the orders of the Supreme Court? Maybe the citizenry and security agencies will follow suit and there goes our statehood”.
Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors
He referenced former Nigerian Chief Justice Chukwudifu Oputa’s stance that “the law is what the Supreme Court says it is, even when it is wrong,” highlighting the belief that while judicial decisions may be flawed, they should be respected until revised or overturned.
The letter was a call for prudence and a warning against succumbing to the more aggressive political instincts that may arise in moments of partisan tension.
“While the hawks would applaud the no-nonsense ‘kinkong’ Bagbin persona on the sidelines, it would ring uncertainty, or even doom, for our democratic governance. Our Constitution has granted hegemony of adjudicative powers in our courts, and installed the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in that enterprise”.
Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors
Appeal for Statesmanship
He appealed to the Speaker’s sense of statesmanship, reminding him that his legacy as a public servant could be defined by the restraint he shows in moments of political pressure.
Senyo Hosi concluded with an appeal to Speaker Bagbin to prioritize national unity over partisan gains and to shield Ghana’s democracy from further polarization.
He signed off with a heartfelt plea from his hometown, urging the Speaker to “be a Statesman” and noting that “posterity will be kind to your time” if he places the nation’s interests first.
Senyo Hosi’s open letter comes at a time when Ghana’s political climate has grown increasingly polarized, with tensions between the judiciary and legislative branches threatening to undermine public confidence in the state’s democratic institutions.
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