Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has called on Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to challenge the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned his decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
The ruling, which came from a seven-member panel led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, sided with Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Afenyo-Markin argued that Speaker Bagbin had exceeded his constitutional authority by declaring the seats vacant without judicial review.
The MPs affected by this ruling include Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central), and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), who either switched political parties or ran as independents ahead of the 2024 elections.
In an interview on November 12, Kpebu expressed the view that if Speaker Bagbin challenges the Supreme Court’s ruling, it would be a strong statement for Parliament’s independence and its role in upholding democratic values.
Kpebu further explained that Bagbin’s original decision was in line with Parliament’s authority over its internal matters. He also cautioned that any judicial interference in such matters could undermine the separation of powers, potentially weakening the democratic framework.h.
“He has shown that he is not happy. He says there is a collusion between the judiciary and the executive. That is the Speaker’s words, right? Yeah, so this decision will reinforce the Speaker’s views that he doesn’t agree. And so you are going to expect some pushback from the Speaker. Yeah, and it is good for our democracy.
“The speaker needs to push back because when he does, it will force us to think we need judicial independence. That is what this decision underscores. The judiciary has become a bit weak. The Supreme Court is that weak. So we need a constitutional review.”