Vacant Seats: Supreme Court halts Speaker’s ruling

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