The Supreme Court will rule on Speaker of the House of Representatives Alban Bagbin’s announcement of four open seats today, Tuesday, November 12.
Because Alban Bagbin’s attorneys were not present in court on Monday, November 11, 2024, the court postponed the decision until Tuesday.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader, filed the lawsuit, contesting Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare these seats empty without consulting the courts or holding by-elections.
The main point of contention is Speaker Bagbin’s reading of the 1992 Constitution with reference to parliamentary vacancies. On October 17, 2024, Bagbin announced the four seats were empty, claiming that the MPs in question had broken constitutional provisions, which he felt warranted their dismissal.
Afenyo-Markin argues that Bagbin’s independent decision-making went beyond his constitutional authority.
He contends that the Speaker’s actions circumvented the proper judicial process and that only the judiciary has the authority to interpret the Constitution in these situations. Afenyo-Markin claims that Bagbin’s declaration essentially denies the constituents in certain places their right to representation by disenfranchising them.
The Supreme Court blocked any further action on the vacant seats until a definitive ruling could be rendered in response to Afenyo-Markin’s lawsuit. However, Speaker Bagbin filed a motion to have the court overturn its ruling, contesting this temporary injunction.
He said that his decision was within his authority to uphold parliamentary integrity and that blocking his declaration violated his responsibilities as Speaker.
Bagbin’s attempt to get the injunction reversed was denied by the Supreme Court, which maintained its earlier decision and paved the way for today’s significant decision.
Source: newsthemegh.com