What ‘pained’ NDC MPs are saying after Supreme Court ‘overruled’ Speaker Bagbin's vacant seats declaration

Some Members of Parliament of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) are up in arms over the Supreme Court’s ruling on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, which ended their short-lived status as the Majority Caucus of the House.

The MPs, whose demeanours suggest they are very upset by the Supreme Court overturning Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four seats in the House as vacant, have indicated that this would not be the last of the matter.

They have not held back in their criticism of the Supreme Court, indicating that they would boycott sittings of the House till next year, among other threats.

Here is how some NDC MPs have reacted to the Supreme Court ruling:

It is not over – Dafeamekpor:

The MP for South Dayi has stated that the tussle in the House over which political party forms the Majority Caucus is far from over.

He claimed that the leadership of the NPP MP, who ran to the Supreme Court for an interpretation of Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution, has filed a motion for the declaration of the seat of their MP for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, using provisions in the same article.

He added that when the House reconvenes, his side is going to trigger the motion for the seat to be declared vacant.

“Are you aware that as we speak there’s a pending motion in Parliament again brought by the NPP for the Honourable Adwoa Safo to be declared vacant pursuant to Article 97 (1)(g)?

“When they brought that motion, they didn’t know that the declaration that the Speaker would make would be unconstitutional. Well, they triggered that motion, and the report is even ready. I have the copy prepared by the Privileges Committee. They triggered that motion, we’ll take the decision on that motion,” he said in an interview on JoyNews.

He added, “I’m saying that the matters of numbers in Parliament are not over. It’s not over at all.”

"As we speak, there's a pending motion in Parliament brought by the NPP to declare the seat of Adwoa Sarfo vacant."

- Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor tells us of another NPP attempt to remove their own member from Parliament. #JoySMS pic.twitter.com/7RxiDZ7Yko

— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) November 13, 2024

According to him, about 99 percent of NDC MPs have stated that they would not be attending proceedings in the House till the 8th Parliament is over.

“If the Supreme Court says they have the authority to change the status quo in Parliament, then they should arrogate to themselves the power to order Parliament to sit tomorrow. No MP from our side will respond to any call to leave the field and come to the House. We are not robots to be pushed here and there.

“… about 99% of our members on our platform have said that we will not respond to any recall of Parliament,” he is quoted to have said by 3news.com.

I agree with Manasseh saying ‘this justice system is worse than the constitutional crisis in Parliament’ – Agbodza

The MP for Adaklu and Minority Chief Whip shared and affirmed a post by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure to express his frustration over the court's decision.

Manasseh slammed the Supreme Court over its handling of the application against the Speaker of Parliament, accusing the court of giving prominence to cases brought before it by members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“When Parliament didn’t sit for a few days, the Chief Justice called it a constitutional crisis. She’s leading a panel of judges to expedite the case brought to the apex court by the aggrieved NPP side in Parliament.

“When the same Parliament passed a law in February, and the President refused to receive it for signing into law, the Supreme Court is taking forever to settle that case before it. Proponents of the law recently protested against the delay in hearing that case. In the NPP’s parliamentary case, the same court is sprinting,” he wrote.

He added, “This justice system is worse than the constitutional crisis in Parliament. Those chiding the Speaker of Parliament should equally be worried about Ghana’s judiciary and the conduct of institutions of the state that are supposed to be independent.”

Manasseh writes, and I agree ..

When Parliament didn't sit for a few days, the Chief Justice called it a constitutional crisis. She's leading a panel of judges to expedite the case brought to the apex court by the aggrieved NPP side in Parliament.

When the same Parliament… https://t.co/xw3bfO8RTl

— kwame agbodza (@KAgbodza) November 12, 2024

BAI/OGB

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