Vacant seat: Bagbin has no choice but to comply with Supreme Court judgment – KT Hammond

The MInister of trade and industry, KT Hammond, has averred that the speaker of Parliament has to comply with the decision of the Supreme Court.

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Thursday, October 17, declared four parliamentary seats vacant, shifting the balance of power in Parliament. The affected constituencies are Amenfi Central, Fomena, Agona West, and Suhum.

However, on Friday, October 18, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on Bagbin’s ruling of declaring seats vacant. Saying that the four MPs must be allowed to continue representing their constituencies until the court reaches a final decision.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, November 12 ruled the speaker’s decision of declaring the four parliamentary seats vacant as unconstitutional.

Addressing the media after the ruling, KT Hammond denounced Bagbin’s behaviour by defying earlier court decisions and accused him of not respecting the constitution and the apex court.

“The Speaker of Parliament has acted with dictatorial tendencies. The Speaker is supposed to be the custodian of the Constitution, but he has decided that he’ll not respect the Constitution, and he would not respect the apex court of the land,” he said.

Mr. Hammond further point up that while Bagbin asserts to respecting the supremacy of the Constitution, he has ignored the supremacy of the Supreme Court.

“He respects the supremacy of the Constitution but does not respect the supremacy of the Supreme Court,” he said.

He further advised the speaker of Parliament to accept the decision of the supreme court.

“Bagbin has absolutely no choice than to comply with the ruling of the Supreme Court,” he concluded.