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Supreme Court to Deliver Verdict on Vacant Parliamentary Seats in Landmark Case
Ghana’s Supreme Court is set to deliver a pivotal judgment today regarding the four parliamentary seats declared vacant by Speaker Alban Sumana Bagbin. This case, initiated by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary caucus, challenges Speaker Bagbin’s interpretation of the constitutional article on the declaration of vacant seats.
The hearing, held on Monday, November 11, 2024, saw a notable absence from the Speaker’s legal representation, who neither appeared in court nor filed arguments in response. This absence leaves the focus squarely on Bagbin’s interpretation and how it aligns with parliamentary standing orders, specifically on the conditions under which an MP’s seat can be declared vacant.
The legal dispute began when Afenyo-Markin applied for an ex parte ruling, which the Supreme Court granted. Subsequently, the Speaker attempted to overturn this ex parte decision, filing to dismiss it, but the Supreme Court upheld its initial ruling, dismissing the Speaker’s appeal.
Today’s judgment is anticipated to clarify the boundaries of the Speaker’s authority and the constitutional guidelines regarding vacant seats, a ruling that could set a precedent in Ghana’s parliamentary law and governance.