Ghana supreme court restores ruling party’s majority in parliament ahead of election

Ghana’s supreme court has ruled that the declaration of four seats in the country’s parliament as vacant was unconstitutional.

The apex court’s verdict restores the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) majority in the legislature ahead of the December 7 election.

Alban Bagbin, the parliament speaker, had declared that two NPP lawmakers and one National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislator vacated their seats when they registered to contest the election as independent candidates.

Another lawmaker, who leans towards the NPP, registered to contest the vote as an NPP candidate.

Bagbin’s decision shifted the parliamentary majority to the NDC, with 136 seats against the 135 seats of outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP.

Two ensuing parliamentary sessions were indefinitely postponed, delaying the presentation of a provisional budget for 2025’s first quarter and the approval of supreme court nominations, loans, and bill enactments.

Subsequently, NPP caucus leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin petitioned the country’s apex court to overturn Bagbin’s ruling.

Gertrude Torkornoo, the presiding judge, announced in a televised ruling that Afenyo-Markin’s appeal was successful by a majority decision of 5:2.

She added that the court will file the reasons behind its decision later.

Thirteen candidates are vying to replace outgoing Akufo-Addo in January.