Clement Kojo Akapame, a private legal practitioner and senior lecturer at GIMPA Law School, has expressed confidence that Speaker Alban Bagbin will respect the Supreme Court ruling regarding the four vacant parliamentary seats.
His remarks follow the Supreme Court’s stay of execution on Bagbin’s earlier decision to declare these seats vacant.
This ruling was prompted by a motion from former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, based on constitutional provisions that require Members of Parliament (MPs) who wish to run as independent candidates to vacate their seats.
The affected MPs include Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), who were found to have either changed political affiliations or indicated their intent to contest as independents in the upcoming elections.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, the Minority has asserted their intention to occupy the Majority seats when Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday, October 22.
However, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has reiterated that the Majority will exit peacefully to avoid confrontation with the Minority.
In an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View, Akapame expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Bagbin ignoring the judicial order.
He emphasized that, given the Speaker’s legal expertise, it is probable that he will comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Akapame further argued that defying the court’s order would be unwise and could lead to disorder within the parliamentary system, stating that respecting the rule of law would be in the best interest of both the Speaker and Parliament.
“I don’t think we will get there on Tuesday, I think that the Speaker being a very seasoned lawyer and knowing his experience, once an order is served on the Speaker from the Supreme Court.
“I think that the Speaker will respect the order or that is what I would expect the Speaker to respect the order and not to proceed.”
