The Attorney General (AG), Godfred Dame, has called on all parties involved in the case concerning the vacant parliamentary seats to adhere to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The judgment came after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, filed an application to the Court to overturn its earlier ruling on his declaration of vacant seats in the House.
The Speaker declared four seats vacant in parliament—three NPP seats and one NDC seat—because the MPs will run in the upcoming polls on party tickets other than those that brought them into the House.
After about three weeks of deliberation on the vacant seats case, the Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday, 12 November 2024, that the Speaker’s declaration of the seats as vacant was unconstitutional.
"In a majority decision of five to two, with Lovelace Johnson JSC and Amadu Tanko JSC dissenting on the issue of jurisdiction, the plaintiff's action succeeds," said the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Supreme Court, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
On his part, the AG emphasised that "The Court has spoken in very clear and emphatic terms, and the only thing anybody has to do is respect the Court’s decision."
He explained that adhering to the verdict reflects "the mark of a civilised democratic order," adding that "it leaves no room for any argument."
The AG made these comments to the media after the CJ delivered the ruling at the Supreme Court in Accra.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice noted that the reasons for the verdict, explaining why the Speaker’s declaration cannot stand, would be announced on November 13.
"The full reasons and orders of the Court shall be filed with the Registrar by the close of business tomorrow, 13 November 2024. This is the judgment of the Court." the CJ added.
The ruling means that the NPP remains the majority in Parliament, while the NDC will continue to be in the minority until the new Parliament is formed next year.
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