Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, who represents the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament as the MP for Odododiodoo, believes that the determination of majority or minority status in Parliament should be based on the actual numbers within the House rather than the Supreme Court or the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Amid a heated dispute, Speaker Alban Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant, causing confusion over the majority status in Parliament. His comments only added to the controversy. The NDC caucus has asserted their claim to be recognized as the majority, while the NPP caucus has also demanded to be acknowledged as such.
On November 12, 2024, the Supreme Court in Accra ruled against Speaker Bagbin’s decision, agreeing with a challenge from Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo led a 5-2 decision where the Court ruled against Speaker Bagbin’s interpretation of Article 97(1)(g) of the Ghanaian Constitution, which he used to justify his declaration, stating it was incorrect.
Afenyo-Markin contended that Bagbin had overstepped his authority by circumventing judicial review.
Some of the MPs impacted by Bagbin’s statement were Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), and Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central), who ran as independent candidates, as well as Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), who ran under the NPP banner.
Vanderpuye emphasized on Channel One Newsroom that parliamentary standing orders should be the main factor in determining majority or minority status in the House, rather than relying on decisions from the judiciary or directives from the NPP.
He emphasized that Parliament has the authority to make decisions on its internal affairs according to its makeup.
He explained that the determining factor of minority or majority status is based on the numbers in the house, and when they resume, it will become clear who holds the majority. This does not pertain to the Supreme Court.
It is not the role of the NPP or the Supreme Court to determine the majority or minority in Ghana’s parliament. We have established procedures to differentiate between the majority and minority groups. Speaker Bagbin declared them as the majority.
Did they then go to the Supreme Court to confirm this declaration? .
