The Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi-Asokwa and Minister for Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond (KT Hammond), did not adopt the reconciliatory tone of his New Patriotic Party (NPP) colleagues following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the declaration of four seats in Parliament as vacant, which had previously positioned them as the Minority Caucus.

After the court's ruling on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, while his leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, addressed the press with a tone of reconciliation, urging cooperation from Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin and National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs, KT Hammond was heard exclaiming, "Bagbin has lost."

When he had the opportunity to speak to the media, the Adansi-Asokwa MP further highlighted his side's victory over the Speaker.

"The Supreme Court is the custodian of the Constitution… This man decides that he will not respect the Constitution. Not only that, he would not respect the apex court of the land. It is outlandish; I haven't seen anything like this in my life.

"And I heard this argument that he (the Speaker) respects the supremacy of the Constitution but doesn't respect the supremacy of the Supreme Court. What does this mean?"

He then went on to taunt his NDC colleagues, telling the leader of the NDC caucus in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to return with his members to the minority side of the House.

"Tell Ato and his followers to move back to where they originated onto our seats. We expect that to be done without fail. That's how simple this matter has become. Bagbin must learn to respect the authority of the Supreme Court."

About the Supreme Court Ruling:

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Ghana overturned Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin's declaration of four seats in the House as vacant.

The court's judgement followed an application by Effutu MP Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, who challenged the Speaker's declaration.

Through his lawyers, Afenyo-Markin, who remains Majority Leader, sought a clear interpretation of the constitutional provisions on which the Speaker based his decision. Article 97 states that "A Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament – (g) if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member…. (h) if he was elected a Member of Parliament as an independent candidate and joins a political party."

Afenyo-Markin requested that the court declare the Speaker's interpretation of Article 97 (g) and (h) incorrect and, consequently, reverse the Speaker's declaration of the seats of Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), and Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central) as vacant.

The Chief Justice, in announcing the court's decision, stated that the Majority Leader's application was upheld by a 5-2 majority.

Two of the justices opposed the application on jurisdictional grounds.

The justices who supported the application included Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Justice Mariam Owusu, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu, and Justice Yaw Darko Asare.

The two judges who dissented were Justice Avril Lovelace Johnson and Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu.

Watch his remarks in the video below





BAI/OGB

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