Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga
The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs will take the Majority position when the House recovenes on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, unless the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, instructs otherwise.
Speaking in an interview on Citi Breakfast Show and monitored by GhanaWeb on Monday, October 21, 2024, he emphasised that NDC MPs will act based on the Speaker’s directive.
“We are a coordinate branch of government, which is the legislature. We listen to our Speaker; we don’t listen to the Supreme Court. We, the Majority at that time, were not part of the proceedings in court. The Court has not spoken directly to us.
“We are ignoring the Supreme Court because we are a coordinate branch of government and the constitution is very clear that the Supreme Court should not interfere in our work. We are protected by the constitution,” he stated.
Referring to Articles 115 and 112 of the 1992 Constitution, he pointed out that Parliament is an independent branch of the government and doesn’t answer to the Supreme Court.
“If you look at Articles 115 and 112 of the Constitution, it protects the integrity of our proceedings and says that those proceedings should not be impeached or questioned in any court, including the Supreme Court,” he explained.
He also expressed surprise at the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule the Speaker’s ruling, which declared 4 seats in Parliament vacant.
“The Supreme Court understands the constitution better than anybody. So, it surprises us that the Supreme Court will go ahead and impeach our proceedings without listening to the side of the Speaker in Parliament.
“So, we would have taken the same position if they had invited us. If they invited the speaker, perhaps they would have benefited from all the arguments we are making today. And many senior lawyers are making the same argument. This is not a matter that should have been entertained by the Supreme Court,” he noted.
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared four parliamentary seats: Amenfi Central, Fomena, Suhum, and Agona West, vacant, following a motion filed by Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, citing constitutional provisions that require MPs who switch political affiliations or contest as independent candidates to forfeit their seats.
However, the Supreme Court quashed the Speaker’s decision on Friday, October 18, 2024, granting a stay of execution of Bagbin’s ruling.
JKB/AE
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