Former Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba has remarked on the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction in the case of Alexander Afenyo-Markin versus the Speaker and the Attorney General.
The Supreme Court directed Parliament to permit the four MPs to continue serving as lawmakers until the case is resolved, after the Speaker’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant on October 17. The constituencies and lawmakers involved are as follows:
1. Cynthia Morrison, the current NPP MP for Agona West constituency in the Central Region, who has filed to run as an independent candidate.
2. Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for the Suhum constituency in the Eastern Region, who has also filed to run as an independent candidate.
3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region, who has filed to run in the upcoming election as a candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
4. Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), NDC.
The former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu petitioned the Speaker to declare the seats vacant by invoking Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, which mandates that a lawmaker vacates their seat if they leave the party under which they were elected or attempt to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate. Majority Leader Afenyo-Markin filed a suit at the Supreme Court against the petition filed by Haruna Iddrisu.
Despite the Supreme Court’s order to stay the execution of the Speaker’s ruling, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers have expressed their intent to abide by the Speaker’s decision to declare four seats vacant, a move that positions them as the Majority in Parliament.
