By Trade and Industry Minister, KT Hammond, has urged Speaker Alban Bagbin to respect the authority of the Supreme Court and comply with its ruling.
This follows the apex court’s 5-2 majority decision, which declared the Speaker’s move to vacate four parliamentary seats unconstitutional.
Speaking to the media after the proceedings, Mr. Hammond sharply criticized Mr. Bagbin for defying previous court rulings.
“The Speaker of Parliament has acted with dictatorial tendencies. The Speaker is supposed to be the custodian of the Constitution, but he has decided that he’ll not respect the Constitution and he would not respect the apex court of the land,” he said on Tuesday, November 12.
Mr. Hammond further highlighted that although Speaker Bagbin asserts his respect for the supremacy of the Constitution, he has overlooked the authority of the Supreme Court.
“He respects the supremacy of the Constitution but does not respect the supremacy of the Supreme Court. He doesn’t agree that the person of his caliber will not respect the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he said.
Mr. Hammond asserted that Bagbin now has no option but to adhere to the court’s ruling.
“Bagbin has absolutely no choice than to comply with the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he said.
Background
On Thursday, October 17, Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats —three held by the NPP and one by the NDC—vacant, shifting the balance of power in Parliament. With the NDC claiming 136 seats and the NPP reduced to 135, the NDC quickly declared itself the new majority.
However, on Friday, October 18, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on Speaker Bagbin’s decision, ruling that the four MPs must remain in office and continue representing their constituencies until a final ruling is made.
Despite the court’s ruling, the NDC caucus has refused to relinquish its newly claimed majority status.
After hearing arguments from all parties, the Supreme Court ruled earlier today that Speaker Bagbin’s declaration was unconstitutional.
Read also:
Supreme Court Halts Speaker’s Ruling on Removal of 4 MPs from Parliament
