Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame has submitted his statement of case as the 2nd defendant in the lawsuit filed by leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markins challenging Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four seats in Parliament vacant.
This is in line with Supreme Court directives to the lawyers of the speaker of parliament and the Attorney General to file their responses within 7 days.
In the statement sighted by yawa news filed on October 21, 2024, the AG argued that the constitutional provision does not permit that the seat of an MP who files to contest as an independent candidate or another political party in a future election must be declared vacant.
He noted that the decision to declare Agona West, Suhum, Amenfi Central and Fomena seats vacant can only be taken during the current term if they switch parties or become independent within the lifespan of the existing Parliament.
The development comes in the wake of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to adjourn parliament indefinetly to allow cool heads to prevail and resolve the impasse between the NDC and NPP MPs.
