The Supreme Court of Ghana has overturned the Speaker of Parliament’s rule ousting four members of parliament following a petition filed by the NDC’s Haruna Iddrisu.
A five-member panel presided over by the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo have decided through an ex-parte action to place a hold on the Speaker’s rule. This would see the four ousted MPs resume parliamentary duties and turn the power tide to the ruling NPP caucus in parliament once again.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, who had requested an additional two days to reach a conclusion on the petition, in reference to Article 97 (1)(g) of the constitution revoked the four individuals’ membership on Thursday, October 17, 2024. This was after a poll conducted in parliament revealed that the said individuals have decided to become independent members.
According to the referred constitution, these people cease to be MPs once they decide to defect from a party through which they were elected into parliament or once they want to go independent.
The Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin who appeared furious in the wake of the speaker’s ruling in parliament later told the media that they would pursue legal action at the supreme court.
The court underpinned its resort to an ex-parte rule with a reason of “the likely mischief being a halt to the business of parliament especially committees chaired by the current majority members,” amongst other enumerated factors.
Read below the full statement by the court
Just in a matter of hours after the ruling of the speaker, power has shifted back to the NPP caucus due to the new ruling of the court. The court’s ruling is to take effect pending a final determination of the case.
But as to how this would play out in parliament, the next parliamentary seating would determine.
Source: Dehotpress
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