Supreme Court Orders Adjaho To Swear Presidential Oath

The Supreme Court has declared that the decision by the Speaker of Parliament not to take the oath of office before assuming duty as acting President in the absence of the President and Vice President was a violation of the constitution.

The ruling given on Thursday December 3, settles a case in which Mr Samuel Atta-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of Accra based radio station Citi FM, prayed the court to declare as unconstitutional, the Speaker of Parliament’s decision not to swear an oath of office on two occasions that he acted as President.

Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, the Speaker of Parliament on two occasions in the absence of the President and his Vice acted as President but declined to take the oath of office.

He argued that the oath he swore the first time he acted as President was still valid and that he did not have to take the oath again anytime he was to act as President, .

But Graphic Online’s reporter, Seth J. Bokpe who was in court said per the ruling of the nine-member panel, the Speaker of Parliament is obliged to swear the oath of president anytime he assumes the position when the two are absent.

The court further indicated that the swearing of the oath was not a mere formality but an event that reminds him of his duties as President.

The court also said it could hold the speaker for committing a high crime by refusing to swear the oath, although that was not the case brought before it by the complainant.