President Mahama-Sovereignty Resides in the People, Not the Courts

(Accra, The Presidency) President John Mahama says the August 29, 2013 Supreme Court judgment on a petition brought before it by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), “validated the view that sovereignty springs from the people and that sovereignty resides in the people.”
Speaking at a ceremony to swear-in two new envoys, William Azumah Awinador Kanyirige who is heading to Nigeria and Sabah Zita Okainkoi for the Czech Republic, President Mahama reminded them of the meaning and implications of the ruling, noting that they must discharge their duties as high commissioner and ambassador bearing in mind that “the people are the reason for whom we serve and that the people must continue to be uppermost in everything that we do when you go to your missions.”
According to Mr. Mahama who was one of the three defendants in the case filed by the NPP, and by a majority decision dismissed by the court, governance springs from the mandate that is given by the people. This he said is in fact enshrined in the country’s constitution, which says in Article One (1) that the sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana.
“The Supreme Court judgment on the election petition underscored the fact that you cannot get from the courts what you did not get from the people”, the President added.
President Mahama urged the two new envoys to promote Ghana’s democratic credentials bearing in mind that, governance is a shared responsibility.
“As envoys going to represent our country, you should go forth, knowing that Ghana is an established democracy and that we will continue to be the beacon of democracy in Africa.”