The Supreme Court of Ghana has upheld a suit filed by Alexander Afenyo-Markin regarding the controversial declaration of four vacant parliamentary seats by Speaker Alban Bagbin.

In a 5-2 majority decision,on Tuesday, November 12,the Court ruled in favor of Afenyo-Markin,interpreting Article 97(1)(g) and (h) of the Constitution to mean that an MP only vacates their seat during the current term of Parliament, not in a future one.

As a result, the court found the Speaker’s declaration that four seats were vacant to be unconstitutional. Therefore, the four MPs, by law, have not vacated their seats.

In delivering the judgment, the Chief Justice stated that the plaintiff’s action had succeeded, according to the majority decision.

The full reasons for the ruling are expected to be released on Wednesday, November 13.

Speaking after the ruling,leader of the Majority caucus  in Parliament,Alexander Afenyo-Markin called on his colleagues in Parliament to accept the rule of law and allow  peace to reign.

“The law has spoken, and we must all respect the rule of law,we chose peace and peace must reign,” he stated.

Source:TheDotNews