By Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, Nov. 11, GNA – The Supreme Court has slated Tuesday November 12, to deliver its verdict on the four vacant seats in Parliament.
Its decision on vacant seats in Parliament is in relation to Article 97 clause 1 (g) and (h) of Ghana’s constitution.
The Court fixed the date for judgement after the seven-member panel presided by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo listened to various arguments by lawyers in the matter.
Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General and Mr Joe Ghartey, a former Attorney General and lawyer for Mr Afenyo Markin, the plaintiff in the matter, took turns to address the court.
Mr Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament and the first defendant‘s lawyer, Mr Thaddues Sory, were absent when the matter was called.
Mr Dame was not enthused about the absence of Mr Sory in Court and urged the Court to take note of that.
The Attorney General argued that the composition of Parliament could only be altered strictly in accordance with the Constitution.
He said no person or institution had the power to alter the composition of Parliament.
Mr Dame held that Chapter 10 of the Constitution, which talked about Parliament, only talked about one term, adding when people elect a member of Parliament same was done for a four-year term and that Parliament did not go beyond that term.
“Parliament is for only four years and nothing else.”
Mr Dame asserted that a former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye’s ruling in respect of Andrews Amoako Asiamah, then MP for Fomena, was erroneous but same should not be a precedent.
“No matter the number of times an unconstitutional act is repeated, it does not make it right,” he argued.
At the last meeting, the matter was adjourned to enable Mr Sory to confer with the Speaker for further instructions in the matter and file his statement of case.
Afenyo Markin had gone to court to seek interpretation from the apex court of Article 97 (1) (g) and (h), following the Speaker’s ruling, declaring four seats vacant after cross carpeting.
He therefore filed an ex-parte application at the Apex Court to revoke Speaker declaration.
The seats affected were held by Cynthia Morrison, (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum) Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena) and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
GNA