Legal analyst and private practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to challenge the Supreme Court’s decision that invalidated his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant. This ruling, decided in a 5-2 majority by a panel led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, sided with Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who argued that Bagbin had exceeded his constitutional powers by making the declaration without judicial input.
The affected MPs — Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central), and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena) — had changed their party affiliations or ran as independents ahead of the 2024 elections, prompting Bagbin’s declaration.
In other articles:
Vacant seat saga: NDC are clearly on a war path – Afenyo-Markin
Litigation on Parliamentary Proceedings: Speaker meets the press
Four vacant seats: supreme court anal speaker’s ruling
Venderpuiye: Majority of Parliament Members Defy Recall
Speaking on the issue, Kpebu argued that if Bagbin challenges the ruling, it could mark a critical moment for parliamentary independence and democratic balance. He asserted that Bagbin’s initial decision was within the Speaker’s remit to manage parliamentary affairs and cautioned that unrestrained judicial intervention could disrupt the separation of powers.
“He [Bagbin] has expressed dissatisfaction, stating there’s perceived collusion between the judiciary and executive — these are the Speaker’s words,” Kpebu noted. “This decision could reinforce his position, and a pushback would benefit our democratic framework. It may prompt a vital discussion on the need for judicial independence and constitutional review.”
Kpebu’s comments add weight to a growing conversation around parliamentary authority, judicial power, and democratic checks within Ghana’s governance structure.
