Ghana Supreme Court restores NPP majority seats

KEY POINTS

• Supreme Court overturns vacant seats ruling, restoring NPP majority.
• NPP now positioned to pass crucial legislation.
• Ghana’s election sees Mahama narrowly leading in polls.

Ghana’s Supreme Court has ruled that the Speaker of Parliament’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant was unconstitutional, reinstating the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) majority ahead of the country’s December 7 elections.

The verdict marks a significant shift in the political landscape, with crucial implications for both legislative operations and upcoming political contests.

Speaker’s ruling shifts parliamentary majority, halting key legislation

The case stemmed from Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration that seats held by two NPP lawmakers and one from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) were vacated after they registered as independents.

Another lawmaker, aligned with the NPP, had registered to run as a candidate for the ruling party, further complicating the parliamentary arithmetic.

Bagbin’s ruling had tilted the balance of power, shifting the majority to the NDC with 136 seats, compared to the NPP’s 135. This adjustment has forced the indefinite postponement of two parliamentary sessions, stalling progress on key legislative matters, including presenting a provisional budget for the first quarter of 2025 and approving important Supreme Court nominations, loans, and bills.

Ghana’s supreme court ruling signals return to normalcy in parliament

As reported by Reuters, the Supreme Court, however, overturned this decision. In a televised announcement, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo confirmed that the court had ruled 5-2 in favor of the appeal filed by NPP caucus leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. The court’s full reasoning will be provided at a later date.

Following the ruling, Afenyo-Markin welcomed the decision, signaling the return of normal parliamentary proceedings.

Among the immediate priorities for lawmakers is the approval of a $250 million World Bank loan aimed at strengthening Ghana’s financial sector and offering tax relief to businesses.

As Ghana prepares for its highly anticipated election, opinion polls suggest that opposition leader John Dramani Mahama holds a slight edge over NPP’s Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, though analysts expect a tightly contested race in the weeks ahead.