Today, Ghana’s Supreme Court will issue a pivotal judgment on whether Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin overstepped his constitutional authority in declaring four parliamentary seats vacant without judicial approval—a decision that has ignited a major political debate.

The case was brought by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary caucus. He argues that Bagbin’s September 17 decision to vacate the seats, citing alleged constitutional breaches by the MPs involved, bypasses the judicial oversight required to uphold parliamentary representation rights.

Bagbin maintains he acted within his authority under the 1992 Constitution, asserting that the MPs failed to meet legal requirements and thus forfeited their seats. However, Afenyo-Markin contends that only the judiciary can make such a determination and that Bagbin’s unilateral move denies the affected constituencies of their right to representation.

In response to Afenyo-Markin’s challenge, the Supreme Court issued an interim injunction to halt any action on the seats until a final ruling. Bagbin sought to overturn the injunction, arguing that it restricted his role and compromised parliamentary integrity, but the court upheld its decision.

The Supreme Court’s verdict, expected later today, could redefine the boundaries of the Speaker’s authority, clarifying the constitutional balance between parliamentary and judicial powers in Ghana.

Source:TheDotNews