The South Dayi Member of Parliament (MP), Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has taken legal action against Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, at the Accra High Court.
Dafeamekpor’s writ seeks to compel the Speaker to clarify the status of four parliamentary seats that he claims should be confirmed as vacant, as their holders have opted to run as independent candidates in the upcoming elections.
In addition to this, Dafeamekpor is requesting a court declaration that any parliamentary activities involving these members after October 17 are unlawful.
He argues that the ruling made by the Speaker on October 17 remains valid, backed by Article 97(1)(g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution. His legal action aims to prevent four MPs—Mr. Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), Mrs. Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Mr. Kwadwo Asante (Sohum), and Mr. Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central)—from engaging in parliamentary proceedings.
This situation has sparked a heated debate within the judicial community, with differing views on the Speaker’s actions and their compliance with parliamentary laws.
Since the Supreme Court expressed its disapproval of the declaration of the vacant seats, Parliament has been inactive.
On October 18, the Supreme Court issued a stay on Speaker Bagbin’s ruling declaring four seats vacant, which will remain in effect until a final decision is made. This stay was requested by NPP MPs through an ex parte application, excluding Speaker Bagbin and Parliament from the proceedings.