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Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, suspended Parliament indefinitely during Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
Before suspending Parliamentary business processes, Speaker Bagbin stated that while the House had enough members to have a quorum, it lacked the necessary numbers to make decisions in accordance with the House’s Standing Orders.
Due to the New Patriotic Party members of Parliament boycotting the meeting over the controversy surrounding the formation of the Majority Caucus, the House lacked the necessary numbers to make decisions.
The Speaker cited the Supreme Court’s order to revoke his designation of four House seats vacant which rendered members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Majority Caucus, illegal.
After adjourning the House indefinitely, Bagbin made no indication that he would follow the court’s ruling.
On October 18, 2024, Ghana’s Supreme Court overturned Speaker of the House of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s decision over the vacation of around four seats.
This happened when the nation’s highest court, presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, was deliberating on a request from members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in parliament.
The Speaker’s October 17, 2024, verdict is essentially suspended by the apex court’s ruling until more legal analysis and a final conclusion are made.
The affected seats and their MPs included Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
The supreme court’s verdict essentially halts the Speaker’s October 17, 2024, ruling until more legal review and a final decision are made.
The NDC now has a majority in Parliament after Bagbin approved a move by Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to declare about four seats vacant.
In his verdict, the Speaker pointed out that the concerned Members of Parliament had violated Article 97(g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution by choosing to run in the December 7, 2024, election as independents or on the ticket of a party other than the one they presently represent.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
