Supreme Court sets November 11 for judgment on vacated parliamentary seats

Accra, Ghana - October 30, 2024 - The Supreme Court of Ghana has set November 11, 2024, as the judgment day for the substantive case involving the four vacated parliamentary seats.

This decision comes after Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin challenged Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin's ruling, declaring the seats vacant.

Background of the Case

The controversy began when Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant, citing Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution. Afenyo-Markin countered that the Speaker overstepped his constitutional powers by unilaterally declaring the seats vacant without judicial oversight or allowing by-elections.

Supreme Court's Initial Ruling

The Supreme Court issued an interim injunction, temporarily reversing the Speaker's decision. Bagbin's legal counsel, Thaddeus Sory, argued that the Court lacks jurisdiction to halt parliamentary decisions, as they are non-judicial. However, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo dismissed this claim, emphasizing the Court's authority to intervene in alleged constitutional breaches.

Attorney General's Objection

The Attorney General has raised concerns about Bagbin's private counsel, Thaddeus Sory, citing the lack of approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA). The AG argues that parliamentary matters should be handled by the Attorney General's office, especially since the PPA rejected the Speaker's office request for external legal services in 2022.

Source: Lead News Online