On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ghana ruled that Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant was unconstitutional, effectively restoring the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the majority in Parliament.

This decision, issued by a seven-member panel led by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo, concluded weeks of legal wranglings. The ruling followed a petition by Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who challenged Speaker Bagbin’s declaration.

Some Ghanaians who spoke exclusively to GhanaWeb TV on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, expressed varied views about the ruling. While some welcomed the ruling, viewing it as a necessary affirmation of judicial authority, others expressed concerns about the implications for democratic processes.

"I think it is a bad precedent. It is not good for our democracy. The Speaker actually took a cue from the previous Speaker, Mike Oquaye that shouldn't be an issue right now, because we are even getting closer to elections and any misunderstanding from this upper level will give a bad signal to we the public, the citizens. So, what I mean to say is their judgement wasn't good. It is not something to be condoned," one Ghanaian stated.

Another individual criticised the role of the Supreme Court, arguing that the decision exemplifies a lack of separation of powers.

"For me, the way things are going, the sitting government has already planned everything with the judges. In the sense that, it is Nana Addo who appointed them, most of the judges currently. So, one way or the other any case that they take to the court they win that case. I think if separation of powers is going to work, I don't think the Supreme Court should be nosing in the work of the parliamentarians or the work of the Speaker of Parliament.

"The Supreme Court is supreme; it covers the work of the Parliament. The work of Parliament is different from the work of the court. The court should guide in doing the right thing, but they are our parliamentarians, they make laws on behalf of us. So, I think the court shouldn't have put its hands in parliament issues in the first place", he stated.

Another also stressed the need for the Speaker and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament to respect the apex court's verdict.

"We have to respect the Supreme Court verdict, If Bagbin goes his own way, it will not go well for the country because he has followers. NPP also have followers... To make peace prevail, Alban Bagbin should just oblige," he added.

Watch the video below:





JKB