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Private legal practitioner Julius Opoku Agyei has commented on the growing tensions within Parliament following the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Speaker’s declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant. He attributes much of the unrest to actions by Members of Parliament from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During an interview on JoyNews The Law on Sunday, November 10, Mr. Opoku Agyei explained, “NDC MPs have made it difficult for the four affected Members of Parliament to enter the chamber,” making it harder to enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling.
He clarified that the Speaker of Parliament has not prevented the four MPs from attending sessions, which means he cannot be accused of contempt of court. Mr. Opoku Agyei noted that the Speaker’s recent attempt to ask the Supreme Court to overturn its order reflects his recognition of the Court’s authority and a willingness to follow its ruling. “The Speaker could have ignored the order but chose instead to seek the Court’s judgment, which shows he recognises the authority of the order,” he stated.
However, Mr. Opoku Agyei argued that the Speaker, as the head of Parliament, holds some responsibility to ensure that MPs do not disrupt the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s order. “If you see that certain MPs under your control are acting in ways that block the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s decision, you become a party to it,” he explained.
The issue began when the Speaker announced that four parliamentary seats were vacant, a decision the Supreme Court quickly stayed. Despite this ruling, parliamentary sessions have twice been adjourned due to a lack of quorum, as these MPs have not been present. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs claim that NDC members are
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