The Supreme Court of Ghana has overturned a decision by Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin to declare four seats vacant, effectively reinstating the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) majority in the 275-seat chamber, Bloomberg reports.
The decision was announced on Tuesday by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo in the capital, Accra, following a challenge filed by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the NPP’s leader of government business. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff with a majority decision of five against two, with the full details of the ruling to be released at a later date.
The dispute arose last month after two NPP members filed with the elections agency to change their party affiliation before the December 7 election. This, along with the declaration of the seat of an independent lawmaker who typically votes with the NPP as vacant, and the vacancy of an opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) member, reduced the ruling party’s seats from 137 to 135.
The NPP-leaning independent member now plans to run as a candidate for the NPP, while both NPP defectors and the NDC defector will run as independent candidates in the upcoming election.
The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively reverts the balance of power in parliament to its pre-vacancy status, ensuring the NPP maintains its majority. This outcome has significant implications for the upcoming election as it strengthens the NPP’s position in the legislative branch.
Ghana will hold national elections next month, with Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia facing off against former president John Dramani Mahama, the NDC flagbearer. The election marks the end of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s second and final term.
