Ghana’s Supreme Court Overturns Speaker’s Declaration of Vacant Parliamentary Seats

Ghana’s Supreme Court has invalidated Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant in a landmark ruling.

The court’s decision, which aligns with Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s legal challenge, is reverberating across the nation’s political landscape as Ghana approaches its general elections.

The controversy originated when Speaker Bagbin invoked Article 97(1)(g) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution to declare the seats vacant, sparking intense debate and legal scrutiny.

Afenyo-Markin contested this move, arguing that the Speaker had overstepped his constitutional bounds by bypassing judicial oversight and denying the affected constituencies the possibility of by-elections.

The Supreme Court’s seven-member panel, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, ruled in a 5-2 majority in favor of Afenyo-Markin.

While the court has yet to release a detailed explanation of the ruling, this decision marks a significant precedent in Ghanaian parliamentary procedure and constitutional interpretation.

 

Report by Dede Davies

 

 

 

 

 

 

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