Supreme Court can’t overturn Speaker’s decision on vacant seats – Former Law School Director

Former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant, stating that the decision cannot be challenged in court.

According to Ansa-Asare, Parliament operates under its own standing orders, regulations, and procedures, which shield its decisions from judicial review.

He argued that since the matter was thoroughly debated and subsequently received the Speaker’s ruling, it cannot be contested in court.

“The Speaker’s decision follows established practices of Parliament, and it’s not possible to challenge it,” Ansa-Asare emphasized in an interview with JoyNews, citing the principle of separation of powers.

“Each arm of government is a domain in its own right, and just as the executive cannot be faulted when they take decisions, so too should Parliament’s decisions be respected.”

The Speaker’s declaration of the seats vacant was triggered by a petition filed by former National Democratic Congress Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and affected three seats held by New Patriotic Party (NPP) members and one by a member of the NDC.