The five-member panel of the Supreme Court chaired by the Chief Justice has granted a stay of execution of the ruling of the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to declare the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant over the switch of allegiance following an ex parte application by the majority leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin.
This follows Alban Bagbin officially declaring four parliamentary seats vacant. The affected constituencies are Amenfi Central, Fomena, Agona West, and Suhum.
A formal petition was submitted to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin by Haruna Iddrisu, a prominent Member of Parliament from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Minority Leader.
The petition triggered extensive debates and arguments within Parliament, with both the Majority and Minority sides presenting their cases. According to the constitutional provisions cited in the motion, MPs who abandon their party affiliations to run independently are required to relinquish their parliamentary positions.
The majority leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin subsequently moved a motion with supporting affidavits for a stay of execution of the decision by Alban Bagbin which has been granted by the Supreme Court with the Chief Justice presiding.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
