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HomeNewsParliament in Limbo: Speaker adjourns indefinitely amid Supreme Court showdown over vacant...

Parliament in Limbo: Speaker adjourns indefinitely amid Supreme Court showdown over vacant seats

In a dramatic turn of events, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has adjourned the House indefinitely, citing the lack of a quorum.

This decision, made on Tuesday, October 22, comes amid escalating tensions following a Supreme Court directive regarding four controversial parliamentary seats.

The adjournment follows Speaker Bagbin’s earlier ruling on Thursday, October 17, declaring the seats of four MPs vacant—a move that has sparked a legal and political standoff.

However, the Supreme Court intervened on Friday, October 18, instructing Parliament to reinstate the MPs and allow them to continue serving until the matter is resolved in court.

Although Speaker Bagbin acknowledged receiving a formal communication from the Supreme Court, he refrained from disclosing its full contents, further fuelling uncertainty around the issue.

The MPs in question are:

1. Cynthia Morrison (Agona West, NPP), who filed to run as an independent candidate.
2. Kwadwo Asante(Suhum, NPP), also running as an independent.
3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako (Fomena, Independent), who is now contesting under the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
4. Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central, NDC).

The controversy began when former minority leader Haruna Iddrisu invoked Article 97(1)(g) of Ghana’s Constitution, which states that MPs must vacate their seats if they abandon the party under which they were elected or seek re-election as independents.

Following this, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin took the issue to the Supreme Court, challenging Iddrisu’s petition.

Despite the Supreme Court’s directive to halt the execution of the Speaker’s ruling, opposition lawmakers from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have insisted on recognising Bagbin’s decision, which, if enforced, would give them the majority in Parliament.

As this legal battle unfolds, the indefinite adjournment leaves Parliament in a state of limbo, with the balance of power and the future of the disputed seats hanging in the balance.