The ruling party in Ghana’s Parliament has retained its majority—at least according to a decision issued by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, November 12. The court deemed unconstitutional a previous move by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, nearly a month ago, which had shifted the balance in favor of the opposition, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
However, with just three weeks left until the presidential election, it’s unclear if this decision will resolve the ongoing political deadlock.
“The Supreme Court’s decision marks a victory for the rule of law,” declared Alexander Afenyo-Markin, leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) group in Parliament, who had challenged Speaker Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. Bagbin, a member of the NDC, had cited Article 97 of the Constitution to justify this decision, which then swung the majority to the NDC, sparking weeks of turmoil and repeated adjournments in Parliament.
While the Supreme Court has yet to publish the detailed reasoning behind its judgment, Speaker Bagbin has not issued a response as of Wednesday, November 12. The question now is whether he will reconvene Parliament, which remains adjourned, with the December 7 general elections fast approaching.