Supreme Court Injuncts Bagbin’s Ruling Declaring 4 Seats Vacant | Politics

The Supreme Court of Ghana has issued a stay of execution on Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s ruling, which declared the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant

Parliament has therefore been asked to recognize and allow the four MPs to carry out their official duties.

The case was heard by a panel of Supreme Court justices, presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo. 

Other members of the panel included Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Kwame Adibu Asiedu, Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, and Justice Yaw Darko Asare. 

Speaker’s Ruling

The Speaker in a ruling on Thursday, 17 October 2024, declared four parliamentary seats vacant following a decision by the affected members of Parliament to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections as independent candidates.

The affected MPs are as follows: Cynthia Morrison, the current NPP MP for Agona West constituency in the Central Region, Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for the Suhum constituency in the Eastern Region, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region, now candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Peter Kwakye-Ackah, Amenfi Central, NDC contesting as an independent candidate.

The Speaker’s ruling followed a motion filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, requesting the declaration of certain seats as vacant. This request is grounded in Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they choose to leave the party under which they were elected or seek to continue serving in Parliament as an independent candidate.