The Supreme Court says its decision to restrain the embattled Assin North MP James Gyakye Quyason from discharging his parliamentary duties is in the utmost interest of Ghanaians.

The apex court insists it will be “failing in its exclusive mandate and duty to the Ghanaian people to uphold and protect the constitution” if James Gyakye Quayson is allowed to continue his duties as MP.

A failure, it says, will endanger the sanctity of the Ghanaian constitution and democracy.

This was amongst other reasons contained in the true and certified copy of the ruling issued by the court.

“It is our further considered view that this court will be failing in its exclusive mandate and duty to the Ghanaian people to uphold and protect the constitution if it does not suspend, mitigate or abate an alleged constitutional illegality as in this case or an established, proven and adjudged constitutional illegality if the applicant were to succeed in the end in this suit.”

“Such a failure, neglect, or omission will endanger the sanctity of the constitution, our democracy and for that matter, the safety of the Republic.”

For the above reason, the court says it will be an indictment in the administration of justice if it does not uphold the subsisting judgement of the Cape Coast High Court.

“As the highest court of the land, it will be an indictment of the administration of justice if this court did not uphold the subsisting judgement pending a final decision on the constitutionality question raised before us.”

Though we are not exercising an appellate supervisory or some other jurisdiction in respect of the judgement of the High Court, we must not that through ‘Exhibit Man 2’ the 1^st Respondent has been perpetually restrained from holding himself out as Member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency. Further, the unchallenged allegation by counsel for the applicant from the bar that the 1^st Respondent’s appeal to the Court of Appeal (Cape Coast) has been struct out.”

This was the view held by the Majority, held by Justices Jones Dotse, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkornoo, Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi.

However, Justices Agnes Dordzie and Nene Amegatcher dissented.

They argued that the plaintiff Michael Ankomah-Nimfah should have sought enforcement of the High Court Judgment against James Gyakye Quayson, and instituted contempt proceedings against the embattled MP in the High Court rather than appearing before the Supreme Court.