The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Bagbin, has assured the media and citizens that the current impasse in parliament does not amount to a constitutional crisis.
His remarks come after the Supreme Court recently ruled to dismiss the Speaker’s attempt to overturn an earlier decision preventing him from declaring some four parliamentary seats vacant.
Speaking with the media in Accra on November 6, 2024, Speaker Bagbin said the situation could be addressed through mature deliberation instead of lawmakers resorting to the Supreme Court.
“There’s no constitutional crisis in this country. I repeat, there’s no constitutional crisis in this country,” Speaker Bagbin declared as he urged for calm.
Speaker Bagbin emphasised that Parliament has the constitutional right to revoke the seats of four MPs who have crossed party lines or declared their intention to run as independents in the upcoming elections.
He also accused the Executive and Judiciary of colluding to undermine the authority of Parliament in the wake of recent developments.
What the Chief Justice said:
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo recently described the parliamentary dispute concerning four seats declared vacant by the Speaker as a constitutional crisis that necessitates urgent resolution.
During court proceedings on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, she expressed concern about what she views as a delay in the judicial process related to this issue, urging the Speaker’s lawyer, Thaddeus Sory, to take prompt action.
She questioned Sory on why he had not submitted the necessary documents for Speaker Alban Bagbin by the stipulated deadline of October 30, 2024.
“This is a constitutional crisis; we’re living in a country where Parliament is not sitting. What is going on?” she quizzed.
The Chief Justice also directed Sory to ensure that the required documents are filed by the end of business on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
The Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, suggested that the Speaker should be excluded from the case, emphasising that his office handles matters involving public servants and constitutional interpretation.
Gertrude Torkornoo has granted Speaker Bagbin until November 6, 2024, to file the necessary documents, following Sory’s request for additional time to consult with the Speaker regarding the substantive case.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court dismissed an application by Alban Bagbin, who sought to overturn a ruling that suspended his declaration concerning four vacant seats in the House.
This followed an initial suit filed by Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin, challenging the Speaker’s declaration.
Bagbin’s legal team have argued that the apex court lacked jurisdiction in the matter, among other arguments.
