Three Ghanaians, namely Sumiala Bielbiel, Samuel George and George Spencer, petitioned the Supreme Court on Tuesday to file a writ to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Ghana to make a declaration on the true and proper interpretation of certain articles of the 1992 constitution.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eye Witness news program a member of the group, Samuel George, said: “As citizens of the republic of Ghana we are saddened by the conduct of the minority in parliament.”
Although the Minority has indicated that they have not boycotted parliament but have decided to apply certain principles on certain activities of parliament, he questioned “if the actions of the Minority are in consonance with the letter and spirit of the constitution.”
According to him, since Members of parliament swore the oath of allegiance in secrecy, they have a duty to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the constitution as well as the republic of Ghana and to faithfully discharge their duties as MPs.
He quoted portions of the constitution to support his claim.
According to him, “the constitution states that the validity of the election of the President may be challenged only by citizens of Ghana who may present a petition for the purpose to the Supreme Court within 21 days after the declaration of the result of the election in respect of which the petition is presented.
A declaration by the Supreme Court that the election of the President is not valid shall be without prejudice to anything done by the President’s declaration.”
He explained that acting on Parliamentary business is not illegal.
“So you cannot tell me that acting on what is Parliamentary business which is one of the core of a Member of Parliament which is vetting of Ministerial nominee presented to the August house by the President is an illegality” he added.
He called on Ghanaians to demand accountability from the minority MPs.
“If our representatives are going to enjoy the luxury of the tax payers money and follow what a party leader at the party’s headquarters says to deprive me of my representation, then I think that, morally it is wrong” he lamented.
He cautioned the Minority that if they would keep to their party’s position, then they (Minority) should leave the taxpayers money alone and let the NPP pay them.
Therefore when the Supreme Court explains the Minority’s position to the group, it would set to rest for every Ghanaian to know which is supreme in this country be it the constitution of the republic or the standing orders of the parliament of Ghana? he questioned.
Read the statement below
As citizens of the Republic of Ghana, We, Sumaila Bielbiel, Samuel George and George Spencer have today filled a writ to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Ghana to make a declaration on the true and proper interpretation of Articles 46, 58(1), 63, 64(1)(2), 78(1), 93(2), 100, 103, 125(1)(3)and 127 of the 1992 constitution.
It is our belief that the NPP Members of Parliament duly sworn and subscribed to the Oath of a Member of Parliament as contained in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana have a duty to the same constitution. We deem it unconstitutional and unconscionable the deliberate actions of the Minority NPP to boycott their constitutionally mandated duties in the August House.
The Oath sworn by all Members of Parliament enjoins them to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and to faithfully and conscientiously discharge their duties as Members of Parliament. We strongly believe that the NPP Members of Parliament have betrayed the very Oath they swore by their boycott of key Parliamentary functions such as the vetting of Ministerial Nominees presented to Parliament by the President.
We also hold a strong belief that the NPP Members of Parliament have no moral right to continue in the enjoyment of privileges of Members of Parliament including incentives and emoluments. We find their actions bereft of any moral justification. We find it callous that these MPs would surreptitiously enjoy the largess of the very tax payers whom they have chosen to neglect of representation in Parliament.
The actions of the NPP MPs we believe has brought ignominy on the August House of Parliament and their actions are a slap in the face of the spirit and letter of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
We humbly pray the good people of Ghana would join us in our crusade for better accountability from public officials and defense of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
SUMAILA BIELBIEL
SAMUEL GEORGE
GEORGE SPENCER
Three Ghanaians, namely Sumiala Bielbiel, Samuel George and George Spencer, petitioned the Supreme Court on Tuesday to file a writ to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Ghana to make a declaration on the true and proper interpretation of certain articles of the 1992 constitution.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eye Witness news program a member of the group, Samuel George, said: “As citizens of the republic of Ghana we are saddened by the conduct of the minority in parliament.”
Although the Minority has indicated that they have not boycotted parliament but have decided to apply certain principles on certain activities of parliament, he questioned “if the actions of the Minority are in consonance with the letter and spirit of the constitution.”
According to him, since Members of parliament swore the oath of allegiance in secrecy, they have a duty to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the constitution as well as the republic of Ghana and to faithfully discharge their duties as MPs.
He quoted portions of the constitution to support his claim.
According to him, “the constitution states that the validity of the election of the President may be challenged only by citizens of Ghana who may present a petition for the purpose to the Supreme Court within 21 days after the declaration of the result of the election in respect of which the petition is presented.
A declaration by the Supreme Court that the election of the President is not valid shall be without prejudice to anything done by the President’s declaration.”
He explained that acting on Parliamentary business is not illegal.
“So you cannot tell me that acting on what is Parliamentary business which is one of the core of a Member of Parliament which is vetting of Ministerial nominee presented to the August house by the President is an illegality” he added.
He called on Ghanaians to demand accountability from the minority MPs.
“If our representatives are going to enjoy the luxury of the tax payers money and follow what a party leader at the party’s headquarters says to deprive me of my representation, then I think that, morally it is wrong” he lamented.
He cautioned the Minority that if they would keep to their party’s position, then they (Minority) should leave the taxpayers money alone and let the NPP pay them.
Therefore when the Supreme Court explains the Minority’s position to the group, it would set to rest for every Ghanaian to know which is supreme in this country be it the constitution of the republic or the standing orders of the parliament of Ghana? he questioned.
Read the statement below
As citizens of the Republic of Ghana, We, Sumaila Bielbiel, Samuel George and George Spencer have today filled a writ to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Ghana to make a declaration on the true and proper interpretation of Articles 46, 58(1), 63, 64(1)(2), 78(1), 93(2), 100, 103, 125(1)(3)and 127 of the 1992 constitution.
It is our belief that the NPP Members of Parliament duly sworn and subscribed to the Oath of a Member of Parliament as contained in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana have a duty to the same constitution. We deem it unconstitutional and unconscionable the deliberate actions of the Minority NPP to boycott their constitutionally mandated duties in the August House.
The Oath sworn by all Members of Parliament enjoins them to uphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and to faithfully and conscientiously discharge their duties as Members of Parliament. We strongly believe that the NPP Members of Parliament have betrayed the very Oath they swore by their boycott of key Parliamentary functions such as the vetting of Ministerial Nominees presented to Parliament by the President.
We also hold a strong belief that the NPP Members of Parliament have no moral right to continue in the enjoyment of privileges of Members of Parliament including incentives and emoluments. We find their actions bereft of any moral justification. We find it callous that these MPs would surreptitiously enjoy the largess of the very tax payers whom they have chosen to neglect of representation in Parliament.
The actions of the NPP MPs we believe has brought ignominy on the August House of Parliament and their actions are a slap in the face of the spirit and letter of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
We humbly pray the good people of Ghana would join us in our crusade for better accountability from public officials and defense of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
SUMAILA BIELBIEL
SAMUEL GEORGE
GEORGE SPENCER
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