Kyei-Mensah calls out Bagbin for repeating Mike Oquaye’s error on vacant seats

The ongoing dispute between the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Supreme Court regarding the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant has sparked significant debate.

Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the former Majority Leader, recently spoke out against the Speaker’s decision, calling it illogical and a misinterpretation of the law.

He explained that the lawmakers in question, who had declared their intention to run as independent candidates, remain affiliated with their current political parties until Parliament is dissolved after the upcoming elections and the establishment of the next Parliament.

According to Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, declaring their seats vacant before this time undermines the constitutional framework that governs such matters.

“The lawmakers remain technically affiliated with their parties until Parliament is dissolved,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu clarified, stressing that the Speaker’s decision was based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

He argued that declaring the seats vacant due to the lawmakers’ declarations of intent to run as independents was premature and unfounded. In his view, the lawmakers were still within their rights to continue functioning in their roles.

This dispute prompted Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, to submit a petition to the Supreme Court for clarification.

Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu fully supported this move, stating that Afenyo-Markin acted appropriately in seeking legal guidance. “The Majority Leader’s actions were in line with the Constitution and the proper channels for resolving such disputes,” he remarked.

The Majority Leader also took aim at Speaker Bagbin for what he saw as a troubling pattern. He pointed out that Bagbin had previously criticized a similar decision made by his predecessor, Mike Oquaye, but had now made the same judgment. “

Speaker Bagbin condemned the action of his predecessor, calling it a negative precedent, yet he has now followed the same course,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, expressing concern that such actions could set a dangerous precedent for the future.

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