'Reconvene Parliament for us to resume our sacred duty'

The Majority in Parliament has called on Speaker Alban Bagbin to reconvene the House to allow Members of Parliament (MPs) to resume their legislative duties.

This appeal comes after the Supreme Court ruled against Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, siding with a challenge brought forward by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

In Tuesday’s ruling, the seven-member panel, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, delivered a 5-2 majority decision in favour of Afenyo-Markin.

Chief Justice Torkornoo noted that a detailed explanation of the ruling will be provided later.

In a statement after the ruling on Tuesday, Afenyo-Markin stressed that the court’s decision brought much-needed clarity to the complex institutional matter that had occupied the House for some time now.

He indicated that the court’s ruling showed that the constitution does not grant the speaker the power to declare parliamentary seats vacant.

Afenyo-Markin noted “I reaffirm my utmost respect for your office and your distinguished service to our nation. This judicial interpretation of our constitution should strengthen, not weaken, the relationship between leadership and members of the House.

“With the highest regard for your wisdom and commitment to our democracy, I respectfully look forward to your exercise of your authority to reconvene Parliament, so that together, we may resume our sacred duty to the people of Ghana without further delay or discord.”