The Supreme Court has directed Parliament to recognise and allow the four Members of Parliament whose seats were declared vacant by the Speaker on Thursday (17 October 2024) to continue to serve as MPs until the case is determined.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared four MPs’ seats vacant on Thursday (17 October).
The four MPs affected by the announcement are Andrews Asiamah Amoako, the MP for Fomena, Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum) and Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
“These MPs cannot be allowed by law and my good self to continue to pretend to be representing people that they don’t believe in and they don’t have any loyalty for in this House any longer,” Bagbin declared on Thursday.
The move followed an official petition to the Speaker by the MP for Tamale South and former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu (National Democratic Congress).
Boycott
However, the Majority Caucus, not satisfied with Speaker Bagbin’s ruling, announced that it had decided to boycott Parliament, vowing not to return until the Supreme Court delivers a ruling on the matter.
The boycott followed what the caucus describes as the Speaker’s deliberate avoidance of being served with a court order.
“It is clear that Mr Speaker avoided service of the writ to do the bidding of the NDC,” said Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader. “It’s so clear.
“But we believe in the law. We, as the Majority Caucus, are immediately boycotting Parliament until this matter is determined by the Supreme Court.”
The Majority Caucus expressed frustration with the Speaker’s actions, arguing that he had overstepped the boundaries of his role and taken on a role that should be left to the judiciary.
“The Speaker has no right to interpret the constitution,” a statement issued by the caucus said. “And it is so clear that what he did was to give advantage to the NDC.”
However, the Majority MPs maintained that they would not escalate the matter within the confines of Parliament but would await a legal resolution instead.
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