Freddie Blay, a former national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed his views on the current controversy unfolding in the Parliament and the Supreme Court of Ghana during an interview on Citi News on October 21, 2024.
He emphasized the importance of Parliament respecting the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the declaration of four seats. Blay highlighted that the Supreme Court’s interpretation of laws should be adhered to by all branches of government.
He mentioned that Speaker Alban Sumani Bagbin should not ignore the ruling, as it is crucial for upholding the rule of law.
The ongoing dispute between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP over majority status in Parliament stems from the Speaker’s declaration of the four seats as vacant. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to freeze Speaker Bagbin’s declaration and initiate further legal review, the Legal Department of Parliament was officially served with the court’s order on October 21, 2024.
The Supreme Court’s intervention was deemed necessary to prevent the disruption of government affairs and ensure that all constituencies are represented in Parliament as per constitutional rights. Cassiel Ato Forson has declared four seats vacant.
The Speaker, in his ruling, highlighted that the decision taken by the affected MPs to run in the upcoming December 7, 2024, election either independently or under a different party from the one they currently represent, goes against Article 97 (g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution.
He explained that Article 97 (g) and (h) aim to address the issues of party switching and defection seen in previous parliaments.
The Speaker underlined that Article 97 (g) (i) is intended to maintain party loyalty during an MP’s tenure in Parliament.
He stressed that due to the actions of the affected MPs and the Notice of Polls issued by the Electoral Commission for the upcoming parliamentary elections, they have effectively vacated their seats.
The MPs affected by this ruling are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
