Full text: Supreme Court ruling on vacant seats case

The Supreme Court of Ghana has published its full reasoning behind its recent ruling that Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant was unconstitutional.

In a 5-2 majority decision delivered on Tuesday, November 12, the court upheld a suit filed by Alexander Afenyo-Markin challenging the Speaker’s action. The two dissenting justices argued that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction over the issue.

Afenyo-Markin’s suit had led to a significant standoff in Parliament, with NDC members assuming the Majority position following the Speaker’s ruling, which then prompted a boycott from New Patriotic Party MPs.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Parliament is expected to reconvene, with NDC MPs reverting to their original Minority status.

Read full judgement here: