The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has reminded Ghanaians that, as stipulated by Article 1 of the Constitution, sovereignty rests solely with the people, not with any institution or individual.

 Speaking at the swearing-in of the new President and executives of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) on Monday, 4 November 2024, The Attorney General emphasised that the Constitution stands as Ghana’s supreme law, serving as the ultimate guide for governance and judicial oversight.

“In this country, no institution or individual has sovereignty. In accordance with Article 1 of the Constitution, sovereignty resides in the people of Ghana, and the Constitution is the supreme law,” he indicated, stressing that this fundamental law grants the Judiciary the final authority to interpret and enforce legal standards.

The Attorney General underlined that even the President, as Ghana’s highest officeholder, is subject to the Judiciary’s interpretations of the law.

He cautioned against any institutional actions that deviate from constitutional alignment, stating: “Whatever procedures are utilised by any institution in this country for the conduct of its activity must comply with the Constitution and the laws of Ghana. A default of same will render such procedures liable to be declared by the courts as unconstitutional or illegal. It is as simple as that, and it is non-negotiable.”

This, he asserted, underscores the Judiciary’s role in upholding accountability and constitutional adherence.

The Attorney General called on Ghana’s legal community to support the Judiciary’s mandate, describing its work as “fundamental and crucial to the sustenance of Ghana’s democracy.”

He noted that a strong Judiciary is key to maintaining the rule of law, an essential pillar of democratic governance.

The Attorney General’s comments follow a recent Supreme Court ruling that dismissed an application by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, who sought to reverse a prior ruling on four parliamentary seats.

Speaker Bagbin’s application aimed to counter a Supreme Court order that temporarily halted his declaration of the seats as vacant.

The Speaker also contested a writ by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, seeking to prevent further declarations on the disputed seats.