Vacant seats: Majority slams Speaker Bagbin’s decision, alleges constitutional overreach

The Majority Caucus has criticised Speaker Alban Bagbin for declaring four parliamentary seats vacant, alleging the decision undermines constitutional norms and disrupts parliamentary balance.

The caucus accused the Speaker of political bias, warning that the ruling threatens the integrity of governance just two months before the December elections.

“This ruling, in effect, attempts to unconstitutionally reconfigure the composition of Parliament, shifting the balance of power through extra-legal means,” the Majority Caucus said. “While it affects members from both sides, the disproportionate impact on the Majority raises concerns about impartiality and political motivations.”

The seats declared vacant include two held by New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs—Kojo Asante of Suhum and Cynthia Morrison of Agona West—and an Independent MP, Andrew Amoako Asiamah of Fomena, as well as Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah of the NDC.

The Majority Caucus accused Speaker Bagbin of usurping judicial powers, arguing that he ignored ongoing legal proceedings.

“The Speaker’s actions represent a blatant usurpation of powers vested in the Supreme Court and High Court under the Constitution. Parliament was officially served with a writ on October 17, 2024, yet the Speaker pre-emptively delivered his ruling the same day, disregarding due process and undermining the separation of powers.”

“This decision appears to be part of a strategy to artificially alter the parliamentary majority, especially given how quickly the Minority Leader declared his side as the new Majority. It is a dangerous attempt to steal the people’s mandate through procedural manipulation,” the statement read.

“This move threatens to paralyze governance by impeding policy implementation, risking the very trust that Ghanaians placed in us to deliver our mandate,” the Caucus added.

Source:dailymailgh.com