The Supreme Court of Ghana has by a 5-2 Majority decision ruled in favor of the majority leader Afenyo-Markin citing earlier declaration of four vacant seats in parliament by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, as unconstitutional.
The leader of the majority caucus in parliament has gone to court to seek the interpretation of Article 97 (1) (g) and (h).
He filed an ex-parte motion at the Supreme Court to revoke Bagbin’s earlier ruling.
After the ruling by the Apex Court of the land, Attorney General, Godfred Dame, who addressed the press urged Bagbin to respect the verdict from the Court.
Below are the affected MPs and their constituencies:
- Cynthia Morrison, the current NPP MP for Ayawaso West Constituency. She has field to run as an independent candidate.
- Kwadwo Asante, incumbent MP for Suhum constituency who has also field to stand as an independent candidate.
- Andrew Asiamah Amoako, an independent MP for Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region who has field to run for the NPP in the coming election.
- Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), NDC.
Background
Speaker Alban Bagbin on October 17 declared four seats vacant. But, the Supreme Court on October 18 stayed the ruling of the speaker to allow the four affected MPs represent their constituents until a final decision is arrived at
The NDC caucus led by Caissel Ato Forson confirmed they are the new majority in parliament but Afenyo-Markin disclosed the NPP will continue to follow and respect legal processes and would not be perturbed by the threats from their other colleagues in parliament.
“The NPP caucus will appear on the floor of Parliament. We stated that, we await the verdict of the Supreme Court so once the Supreme Court has spoken, we shall be present in Parliament..,
When we get to the chamber and the NDC decide to occupy the space for the majority, we won’t fight them. We shall walk out quietly. If they put Ato Forson on my seat at the right hand of the speaker, I am not going to fight. I will leave quietly,” he indicated.
