The National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament has maintained its position as the new majority caucus in Parliament after Speaker Bagbin declared four seats vacant.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling on October 18 to stay execution of Bagbin’s ruling, the NDC believes the party still occupies the position of Majority in Parliament
Addressing the media on Sunday, October 20, Cassiel Ato Forson, the leader of the party’s caucus in Parliament called on Ghanaians “to stand by the Speaker [of Parliament] and resist oppressor’s rule.”
“From day one we have not reneged on our fight for the people of Ghana,” he stated during the press conference.
According to the Caucus, they will “listen to only the speaker and nobody else in terms of the legality of what has happened on Parliament.”
“To suspend a decision of parliament, we’re not aware of a legal basis as that. We don’t hear things in the media and act on them, we act on the basis of communication coming to us,” Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga noted while answering questions from the media.
Speaker Alban Bagbin on Thursday, October 17 declared four seats in Parliament vacant after the occupants decided to contest 2024 elections as Independent Candidates.
However, Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin filed an ex-parte motion at the Supreme Court praying for a stay of execution of Bagbin’s ruling.
In less than 24 hours, the Apex Court granted the stay of execution directing the Speaker of Parliament to allow the four MPs whose seats he declared vacant to occupy their seats.
Meanwhile, Former Director of Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare has disapproved of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
He described the court’s decision as “amorphous and meaningless” as it has created room for “constitutional lawlessness.”