The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga has questioned the authority of the Supreme Court to hear the ex-parte motion brought before it in respect of the declaration of 4 seats vacant by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
According to him, the ruling of the apex court that he read, indicates that they suspended the ruling of Speaker Bagbin because the human rights of the MPs concerned and their constituents will be affected.
“I am disappointed in the Supreme Court. They are saying that the issue before them is a human rights issue. That the rights of MPS and their constituents are being violated. If it is a human rights issue, whose rights were violated? Has Afenyo-Markin’s right been violated? So where is Afenyo- Markin’s case? The Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over human rights cases,” he explained on Key Points on October 19.
It is recalled that the Speaker of Parliament declared the following seats vacant:
1. Cynthia Morrison, the current NPP MP for Agona West constituency in the Central Region, who has filed to run as an independent candidate.
2. Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for the Suhum constituency in the Eastern Region, who has also filed to run as an independent candidate.
3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region, who has filed to run in the upcoming election as a candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
4. Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central), NDC.
However, the Supreme Court on Friday, October 18 directed the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to suspend the implementation of his ruling that declared the four seats in the House vacant.
This followed an ex-parte motion filed by Member of Parliament for Efuttu Constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
But Mr Ayariga believes the Supreme Court breached articles 115 and 122 the 1992 Constitution per its suspension of the Speaker’s ruling.
Article 115 states, “…there shall be freedom of speech, debate and proceedings in Parliament and that freedom shall not be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.”
Article 122 states, ” An act or omission which obstructs or impedes Parliament in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes a member or officer of Parliament in the discharge of his duties, or affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly or indirectly to produce that result, is contempt of Parliament.”
“No one shall interfere in the proceedings of Parliament,” Mr Ayariga stressed.
However, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Attafuah disagrees.
“What Ayariga said is not true. Anybody can go to the Supreme Court to seek interpretation of any Human rights issue,” he explained.
Read also:
Full text: Supreme Court ruling on Speaker’s declaration of 4 seats vacant | 3News
Source:
3news.com
Source link
