Legal analyst Samson Lardy Anyenini has sounded a strong warning to the political office holders: ignoring the directives of the Supreme Court is not just misconduct but a constitutional high crime with severe consequences.

In a thought-provoking presentation at COMSSA Fest 2025 at the University of Education, Winneba, Mr. Anyenini said Ghana’s democratic accountability is under serious threat because constitutional orders, especially those concerning the Auditor General, are being flouted without consequence.

“The Auditor General can decide not to issue said charges and dismiss while in flagrant disobedience of the orders of the Supreme Court and still walk free,” he told participants at the SCA Theatre.

He reminded his audience that Article 23 of Ghana’s Constitution gives full weight to Supreme Court rulings, making it obligatory for the Auditor General to act on financial impropriety. “When the Supreme Court makes an order, whomever the order is directed at shall duly obey and carry out the terms of the order or direction,” he explained.

Failure to comply, he warned, carries constitutional penalties of the highest order: “Removal from office for the President or Vice-President. Imprisonment not exceeding 10 years without the option of a fine. Ineligibility for election or appointment to any public office for 10 years.”

Mr. Anyenini lamented that, despite these clear provisions, public accountability remains weak. He said the Auditor General has failed to enforce critical directives of the court, including recovering unlawfully expended funds, retrieving the value of properties lost through negligence, and ensuring compliance through possible criminal prosecutions.

But his concern went beyond the law. He argued that democracy itself is being undermined by poor communication and citizen disengagement. “If we were engaged in effective communication as citizens, we will appreciate that democracy does not belong to the political elite and that democracy is not a political party machinery,” he said.

This lack of effective communication, he insisted, has created a dangerous culture where constitutional violations occur with no meaningful accountability. “The Auditor General can decide not to issue said charges and dismiss while in flagrant disobedience of the orders of the Supreme Court and still walk free,” he repeated for emphasis.

Mr. Anyenini ended with a sobering reminder of what is at stake. “The constitution says that the state where the people can afford the basic needs and necessities of life is the surest guarantee of its survival. If we don’t communicate effectively, the survival of this state is in jeopardy.”

The session, part of COMSSA Fest 2025, brought together students and academics to reflect on the future of Ghana’s democracy, the weight of constitutional compliance, and the urgent need for citizens to demand accountability.