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Legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to challenge a Supreme Court ruling that nullified his decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. The ruling, issued by a seven-member Supreme Court panel in a 5-2 decision led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, sided with Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who contended that Bagbin exceeded his constitutional powers by declaring the seats vacant without judicial review.
The affected seats belong to MPs Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central), and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), who either changed party affiliation or ran as independents prior to the 2024 elections.
Speaking on Tuesday, November 12, Kpebu argued that if Speaker Bagbin were to resist the court’s ruling, it would underscore the importance of parliamentary independence and reinforce democratic governance. He emphasized that Bagbin’s initial decision aligned with Parliament’s authority to manage its internal affairs, warning that unchecked judicial interference could undermine the separation of powers.
Kpebu also noted Bagbin’s recent remarks expressing concern over perceived collusion between the judiciary and executive, arguing that opposing the ruling could emphasize the need for judicial independence and even prompt a constitutional review to reinforce democracy.
