Strengthen Parliamentary Authority, avoid Supreme Court overreliance – Prof. Abotsi advises MPs
He cautioned that rushing to the Judiciary weakens Parliament’s authority, making it less effective in holding both the Executive and its members accountable.
The Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to refrain from frequently taking parliamentary disputes to the Supreme Court (SC) without first exhausting internal resolution mechanisms.
He cautioned that rushing to the Judiciary weakens Parliament’s authority, making it less effective in holding both the Executive and its members accountable.
Prof. Abotsi further noted that when Parliament becomes internally divided, it risks undermining its ability to assert power, ultimately diminishing its influence as a key democratic institution.
Institutional Fragility
Speaking at a three-day orientation program for new members of the Ninth Parliament in Ho on Saturday, Prof. Abotsi expressed concerns that continued internal conflicts within Parliament could ultimately strengthen the Executive’s dominance.
The orientation session gathered experienced legislators and parliamentary experts to train MPs and parliamentary staff on key legislative procedures.
Topics included balancing majority and minority rights, conflict resolution, consensus-building, parliamentary advocacy, and effective monitoring of public services.
Strengthening Parliamentary Independence
Prof. Abotsi emphasized that Parliament should be one of the most powerful institutions of governance but has weakened over time due to external political influences. He pointed out that, in theory, Parliament should have significant control over appointments, including ministers and top-level judicial positions. However, political party influence has diluted its autonomy.
To strengthen the institution, he stressed the need for MPs to respect internal parliamentary procedures, including the Speaker’s authority under Order 129 to discipline members who engage in misconduct.
Drawing a comparison, he posed a rhetorical question: “Imagine a minister suing the President in court, asking for a ruling against a presidential decision—such a scenario would seem highly unusual. Likewise, when MPs frequently turn to the courts instead of resolving matters internally, they inadvertently weaken Parliament’s standing.”
Prof. Abotsi urged MPs to prioritize internal mechanisms to address disputes and safeguard Parliament’s institutional integrity.
