Chief Justice Questions Parliament’s Inaction Amid Vacant Seat Crisis

Chief Justice Questions Parliament’s Inaction Amid Vacant Seat Crisis

In a tense session on Wednesday, Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo pressed Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s legal counsel on the apparent delay in filing crucial documents related to the ongoing controversy over vacant parliamentary seats. The Chief Justice admonished Thaddeus Sory, Bagbin’s lawyer, for failing to submit the necessary paperwork before the Wednesday, October 30 deadline, emphasizing the urgent nature of the case.

“This is a constitutional crisis,” the Chief Justice stated. “We’re living in a country where the Parliament is not sitting. What is going on?” Her remarks underscored the critical impact of the case on national governance and called for greater urgency from the Speaker’s legal team. She urged Mr. Sory to submit the required documents by the close of business on Thursday, setting a new deadline to expedite the judicial process. The hearing was adjourned to November 11.

In a related development, the Supreme Court dismissed an application by Speaker Bagbin seeking to overturn its previous ruling that invalidated his decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. This judicial action came after New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus Leader and Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, challenged the Speaker’s declaration in court.

The Speaker’s legal team argued that the Supreme Court lacked the jurisdiction to review his declaration. However, after extensive deliberations, which included input from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Supreme Court upheld its decision, deeming the Speaker’s appeal to be without merit.

The legal and political standoff has raised significant constitutional questions, especially with Parliament unable to convene until the matter is resolved.