Ghana Supreme Court Rules on Parliamentary Seats

On November 12, 2024, Ghana's Supreme Court ruled that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, acted unconstitutionally in declaring four parliamentary seats vacant, effectively restoring the ruling New Patriotic Party's (NPP) majority. The court's 5-2 decision followed a challenge by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who argued that Bagbin's interpretation of the constitution was erroneous. The affected seats included two NPP MPs, one independent MP, and one National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP, leading to a temporary shift in parliamentary power. Constitutional lawyer Martin Kpebu has urged Bagbin to contest the ruling to reinforce parliamentary independence and democracy. The ruling allows Parliament to proceed with legislative business, including the approval of a significant World Bank loan. The upcoming elections are anticipated to be competitive as polls suggest a potential victory for opposition leader John Dramani Mahama over incumbent Vice President Muhamudu Bawumia.