Supreme Court must champion progress, not just interpret the law – Baffour Awuah

Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah is a lawyer and MP for Manhyia South. He spoke on JoyNews’ AM Show on May 15. He shared his views on Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

Baffour Awuah believes no constitution is perfect from the start. He expected progress in society and a forward-thinking Supreme Court.

He highlighted Article 146, which details how to remove a Chief Justice. He feels the judiciary missed an opportunity for progress in this area.

“The Supreme Court has disappointed us, not the framers of the Constitution,” he said. He referenced former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo's comments about this issue.

He compared Ghana’s Constitution to that of the United States. The U.S. Constitution is shorter but has endured due to its interpretation.

“Ghana's Constitution should also be interpreted for growth,” he stated. He quoted Justice Sowah, saying, “The constitution is a living organism.”

Baffour Awuah called for more dynamic judicial interpretations in the future. He hopes future opportunities will lead to comprehensive interpretations that promote growth.