The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has dared the Minority in Parliament to take legal action if they are convinced of having a strong argument in the recent parliamentary conflict.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the execution of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling declaring the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant, his remarks were made.
Following a motion by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, the Speaker made a ruling based on constitutional provisions that require MPs who intend to run as independent candidates to resign from their seats.
The MPs who were impacted by this decision included Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central). They were found to have violated the rules by either changing their political allegiances or announcing their plans to contest the upcoming election as independents.
The Majority, in protest of the Speaker’s ruling as unconstitutional and unfair, staged a walkout from Parliament.
Afenyo-Markin spoke to the media on Friday, October 18, following the Supreme Court’s decision to grant a stay of execution on the ruling.
He was pleased with the court’s ruling as it confirmed the legal rights of the MPs and reinforced the democratic representation of their constituents.
He stressed that the Majority had put forth a compelling legal argument and were fully confident in their stance.
The court has made a decision on the issue and has instructed the parties to submit the required documents for the final resolution. That’s all there is to it. We expect our colleagues and all those involved in this matter to respect the law, which includes honoring the right honorable speaker.
We believe in the principles of democracy. Violence is not something we endorse. We believe in maintaining order and promoting political stability. We arrived at court with expectations that the justice system would prevail, and we were not disappointed. The MPs’ rights have been strengthened alongside the rights of the constituents who voted for them.
The Ghanaian public can read the entire court ruling for themselves, and then we can resume our discussions. The Ghanaian public can review the full ruling of the court, and discussions can proceed from there.
“If the NDC individuals who are asserting themselves as the Majority truly understand the law, they should be prepared to confront us legally.”
