Vacant Seats Controversy: No-show from Bagbin at Supreme Court

Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has reportedly opted not to defend a suit filed at the Supreme Court seeking an interpretation of the constitutional provision that led him to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.

During the Supreme Court hearing on Monday, November 11, 2024, the Speaker’s legal representatives were notably absent, with no legal filings submitted on his behalf regarding the case.

The suit seeks an interpretation of Article 97(1)(g) and (h) of the Constitution, according to graphic.com.gh.

The seven-member panel, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, proceeded with the hearing as both the plaintiff, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and the Attorney-General, who is the second defendant, had submitted their documents.

The Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, presented his arguments after the plaintiff's legal representatives concluded theirs. He argued that the 2020 ruling by former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, which declared the seat of the former MP for Fomena, Andrews Amoako Asiamah, vacant, was unconstitutional.

Dame emphasized that the actions of then-Speaker Prof. Oquaye should not set a precedent for Speaker Bagbin's recent decision to declare the four seats vacant.

He stated, "No matter the number of times an unconstitutional act is repeated, it does not make it right," as quoted by graphic.com.gh.

MAG/OGB

Watch George Ayisi’s interview with Adam Bonaa on the recent unrest in Bawku below: