An NPP Member of Parliament, Afenyo-Markin, who is the Majority Leader, has successfully petitioned the Supreme Court to halt the removal of four legislators, a move that temporarily preserves the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) slim majority in Parliament.
The legal intervention follows a directive by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, who declared the seats of Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central) vacant.
The Speaker’s decision was based on Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires MPs who intend to contest as independent candidates in elections to vacate their seats.
Speaker Bagbin argued that the constitutional mandate applied to the current Parliament and emphasized that delaying its implementation would undermine the legal provision.
His ruling shifted the balance of power in Parliament, giving the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) a majority of 136 seats compared to the NPP’s 135. This led to NDC’s Ato Forson stepping in as Majority Leader, while Alexander Afenyo-Markin assumed the position of Minority Leader.
However, the Supreme Court’s stay of execution has halted Bagbin’s directive, preventing the removal of the four MPs. NPP members have expressed relief at the court’s decision, vowing to return to parliamentary duties after initially threatening a boycott in protest of the Speaker’s ruling.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, reinstated as Majority Leader, praised the court for upholding the rights of the affected MPs, saying, “The court has done right by reinforcing their rights.”
We came to court believing that the court will do right, and indeed the court has done right… – Alexander Afenyo-Markin after the Supreme Court granted a stay of execution of Speaker Bagbin’s ruling #GHOneNews #EIBNetwork #NPP#GHOneTV #ElectionHub #NDC pic.twitter.com/eGSTjAgKxt
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) October 18, 2024
The Speaker’s ruling initially sparked concerns about potential by-elections. However, with general elections scheduled for December 7, Article 112(6) of the Constitution, which bars by-elections within three months of a general election, ensures that no by-elections will be held. This provision allows the NPP to retain its majority until the December polls.
