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Vacant Seats: Supreme Court halts Speaker’s ruling
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The Supreme Court has today granted a 10-day stay of execution of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s ruling that declared the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant yesterday.
In addition to granting the application filed by the New Patriotic Party MPs, the court directed the Speaker and Attorney General to file their statement of case in the October 15 suit, filed by Afenyo-Markin, within seven days.
This follows a motion filed by former Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu.
He argued that the MPs, who are seeking to contest the upcoming December elections as independent candidates, must renounce their parliamentary positions as outlined in the constitutional provisions governing parliamentary membership.
The affected MPs are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
The decision by the Supreme Court halts the execution of the Speaker Bagbin’s ruling pending further legal review.
Speaking to the media after what he termed as victory, the Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin said “this is NPP, the founders of the tradition used the court to settle issues rather than violence, we came to court believing that the court will do right and indeed, the court has done just that.”
He said by this ruling the right of those MPs have been reinforced as well as the right of those constituents who elected them.
Afenyo Markin thanked the NPP MPs for supporting him throughout last night to put together a solid case before the court.
He charged the NDC who are claiming majority to meet them in court.
The case was heard by a panel of Supreme Court justices, presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo. The panel also included Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, and Justice Yaw Darko Asare.
NPP MPs were represented by lawyers Paa Kwesi Abaidoo and former Attorney General Joe Ghartey.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has taken note of public allegations of extortion and related conduct made against the Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
The allegations were made by the Chief Executive of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi.
In a brief statement, the OSP said it has also received a joint petition submitted by two persons, as well as two separate petitions from other persons, in relation to the same allegations.
“Given the nature of the allegations, the OSP will assess the case and determine whether it falls within its statutory mandate and whether further investigative action is warranted,” the statement said.
The development comes amid a heated public feud between the Minority in Parliament and the leadership of GoldBod over the operations of the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
The Minority, led by Afenyo-Markin, has accused GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana of causing a loss of over $1.7 billion, citing the International Monetary Fund’s August 2026 report. The Minority has vowed to pursue the matter as Parliament has reconvened for an emergency sitting.
GoldBod, on the other hand, has rejected claims by some NPP MPs, including Tano South MP Dr Gideon Boako, that it owes the Bank of Ghana GH¢1 billion in overdrafts, describing the claim as “false and malicious.”
In the latest twist, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi has accused the Minority Leader of extortion and related conduct, an allegation that has triggered petitions to the OSP.
The OSP is mandated under Act 959 to investigate and prosecute specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving public officers and politically exposed persons.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong, has filed his nomination to contest the position of General Secretary again as the party begins its rebuilding efforts ahead of the 2028 general elections.
He was accompanied by party stalwarts and supporters who were in high spirits, expressing confidence that he is the right person to hold the position.
Speaking after filing his nomination, Mr Kodua Frimpong assured the rank and file of the party that he would not disappoint them.
“I can assure you that the faith the rank and file of the party have had in me, I will never disappoint them,” he said.
He also pledged to run a clean campaign devoid of personal attacks.
“I can assure you that our internal campaign will be devoid of personal attacks,” he told his fellow contestants and the rank and file of the party as he seeks to retain his position.
His tenure has seen the party through the 2024 general elections, where the NPP lost power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after eight years in government.
The party is currently in a rebuilding phase, with internal elections scheduled to elect new national executives to lead its reorganization towards the 2028 polls.
The General Secretary position is considered one of the most influential in the party’s administrative structure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the party secretariat and implementation of party decisions.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
