Timeline of the Impasses Between Afenyo-Markin, Speaker Bagbin, and the Supreme Court

October 17, 2024: Declaration of Vacant Seats

Event: Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant based on his interpretation of Article 97 (1) (g) of the Constitution.

Impact: This decision sparked significant legal and political contention, leading to a lawsuit by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

October 18, 2024: Supreme Court’s Interim Injunction

Event: The Supreme Court issued an interim injunction to stay the execution of Speaker Bagbin’s declaration of the four seats as vacant.

Reason: The court intervened to prevent potential harm to constituents who would lose their parliamentary representation without the option of by-elections.

October 30, 2024: Dismissal of Bagbin’s Application

Event: The Supreme Court dismissed Speaker Bagbin’s application to overturn its earlier ruling that stayed the execution of his declaration.

Details: Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo stated that the grounds supporting Bagbin’s application lacked merit. Bagbin’s legal team argued that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to halt parliamentary decisions.

October 30, 2024: Objections to Legal Representation

Event: During the proceedings, the Attorney General raised objections to Speaker Bagbin’s use of private legal representation without prior approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).

Outcome: The AG contended that the Speaker’s office should rely on the Attorney General’s office for legal representation, citing a December 2022 PPA letter.

November 11, 2024: Scheduled Judgment

Event: The Supreme Court adjourned the case to November 11, 2024, for a final judgment on the substantive issues regarding the four vacated parliamentary seats.

Key Issues and Arguments

Constitutional Powers: Afenyo-Markin argued that Speaker Bagbin overstepped his constitutional powers by unilaterally declaring the seats vacant without judicial oversight.

Separation of Powers: Bagbin’s legal team contended that judicial intervention in parliamentary decisions disrupts the separation of powers guaranteed by Ghana’s Constitution.

Legal Representation: The Attorney General’s objections to the Speaker’s choice of private counsel highlighted procedural and legal compliance issues.

This timeline captures the major events and legal battles between Afenyo-Markin, Speaker Bagbin, and the Supreme Court. The final judgment on November 11, 2024, is expected to provide clarity on the constitutional and procedural issues at the heart of this dispute.

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