Supreme Court is a threat to Ghana’s democracy - Osei Akoto

A leading member of the National Democratic Congress and former National Organiser aspirant, Henry Osei Akoto, has voiced his opinion on the Supreme Court's ruling staying the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin's declaration of four seats as vacant.

Reacting to the latest development, Henry Osei Akoto described the Supreme Court, led by Gertrude Torkornoo, as a threat to Ghana’s democracy.

According to him, the highest court in the land has been reduced to a friends' affair, raising concerns about the dangerous precedent being set for the future.

In a post on his official page on X on October 19, 2024, he said “This Justice Torkonoo and her friends' supreme court is a threat to the democracy of Ghana.”

His comment comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning the Speaker’s decision to declare four seats vacant.

The members are Yaw Peter Kwakye Ackah, NDC MP for Amenfi Central in the Western Region, now referred to as an Independent parliamentary candidate in the same constituency; Hon. Andrew Amoako Asiamah, Independent Member for Fomena Constituency in the Ashanti Region, now referred to as the NPP parliamentary candidate for that constituency; Hon. Kojo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum in the Eastern Region, now referred to as an independent candidate for the same region; and finally, Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, NPP MP for Agona West Constituency in the Central Region, now referred to as an independent candidate for that constituency.

Alban Bagbin’s ruling made the NDC caucus the majority with 136 seats, resulting in the NPP caucus becoming the minority with 135 seats.

The NPP, led by Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, filed an ex-parte application for a stay of execution of the Speaker’s ruling.

The Supreme Court justices, in their ruling, directed Parliament to recognize and allow the four MPs to represent their constituents and carry out the duties of their offices pending the determination of the suit.

Additionally, the court has directed the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Attorney General to file their statements of case, as well as their joint memorandum of issues, within seven days of receiving the ruling.

Read Henry Akoto's post below:

This Justice Torkonoo and her friends' supreme court is a threat to the democracy of Ghana.

— Henry Osei Akoto (@HenryOseiAkoto_) October 19, 2024