KT Hammond: Bagbin needs to learn to respect the Supreme Court's authority.

Speaker Alban Bagbin has been urged by Trade and Industry Minister KT Hammond to accept the Supreme Court's authority and follow its decision.

This comes after the Speaker of Parliament's decision to declare four parliamentary seats empty was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court in a 5-2 majority ruling. Speaking to the media following the hearings, Mr. Hammond vehemently denounced Mr. Bagbin's behaviour in defying earlier court decisions. "The Speaker of Parliament has exhibited authoritarian behaviour.

He stated on Tuesday, November 12, that the Speaker, who is meant to be the guardian of the Constitution, has made the decision to disregard both the Constitution and the nation's highest court.

Mr Hammond further emphasised that while Speaker Bagbin claims to respect the supremacy of the Constitution, he has ignored the supremacy of the Supreme Court.

“He respects the supremacy of the Constitution but does not respect the supremacy of the Supreme Court. He doesn’t agree that the person of his caliber will not respect the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he said.

Mr Hammond insisted that Bagbin now has no choice but to comply with the court’s ruling.

He declared that Bagbin had no option but to abide with the Supreme Court's decision.

Speaker Bagbin shifted the balance of power in Parliament on Thursday, October 17, when he announced that four parliamentary seats were up for grabs. Three of the seats were controlled by the NPP, and one by the NDC. The NDC swiftly established itself as the new majority when the NPP was cut to 135 members and the NDC claimed 136 seats.

The Supreme Court, however, granted Speaker Bagbin's decision a stay of execution on Friday, October 18, holding that the four MPs must be let to continue serving their constituents until the court makes a final decision.

Despite the court’s ruling, the NDC caucus has refused to relinquish its newly claimed majority status.

After sitting to hear all parties, the Supreme Court earlier today, ruled that Speaker Bagbin’s declaration was unconstitutional.