Justice William Atuguba, former Supreme Court judge, has indicated that Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, is bound by the Supreme Court’s ruling of his declaration of four seats vacant.
Bagbin had declared the seats vacant following a motion filed by Minority leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
The MPs affected include Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), and Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central), who opted to run as independent candidates, while Andrew Asiamah (Fomena) decided to contest on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In Accra on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the court ruled against Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, siding with a challenge brought forward by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
A seven-member panel, led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, delivered a 5-2 majority decision in favour of Afenyo-Markin.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on Tuesday, the former Supreme Court Judge noted that “In the face of this decision, he (Bagbin) is bound by the decision of the Supreme Court.”
Atuguba stressed that non-compliance with the ruling could raise contempt charges, which attract punishments such as serving a prison sentence or being barred from holding public office for 10 years.
“It is not necessarily 10 years, you must just suffer a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years. Not only that, 10 years disqualification of holding public office and if you are a president, you are liable to removal,” he said.
Atuguba further underscored that the four affected Members of Parliament were to return to the House following the ruling.
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