By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is said to have disregarded a directive from Ghana’s Apex court, the Supreme Court (SC), to file his statement of the case in the ongoing hearing of the case filed by the leader of the New Patriotic Party group in Parliament regarding the legal dispute over vacant parliamentary seats.
Again, the Speaker’s office did not represent itself in court today, November 11th, 2024, during proceedings.
The case involves certain Members of Parliament’s eligibility to retain their seats after declaring their intention to run as independent parliamentary candidates during the 2024 general elections.
The SC had earlier directed the Speaker to file the required documents by Wednesday, November 6, 2024, following a request for an extension by his legal representative, Mr. Thaddeus Sory.
Mr. Sory had cited the need for additional time to consult with the Speaker and gather necessary instructions, emphasising the importance of a well-prepared submission.
However, despite this allowance, no statement was filed by the set deadline, raising questions about the Speaker’s position.
However, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame argued before the court that the Speaker’s involvement was unnecessary, as the Attorney General’s office was authorised to handle matters involving constitutional interpretation on behalf of public officers.
He prayed the SC to proceed with hearing the case, stating that further delays would only prolong the issue and hamper effective legal proceedings.
