Today, the Supreme Court will rule on a high-profile case involving the controversial decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant—a matter that has sparked political debate and put the constitutional authority of Parliament's Speaker, Alban Bagbin under scrutiny.

The case was filed by the leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary caucus, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who contests Speaker Alban Bagbin’s unilateral declaration of the seats as vacant.

Afenyo-Markin argues that Bagbin acted without judicial oversight and bypassed the process of calling by-elections.

Central to the case is Bagbin’s interpretation of the 1992 Constitution’s stipulations on parliamentary vacancies. Bagbin justified his September 17, 2024, decision, asserting that the MPs in question had breached constitutional requirements, thereby forfeiting their seats.

Afenyo-Markin contends that the Speaker exceeded his authority, asserting that only the judiciary has the power to interpret constitutional matters of this nature. He claims that Bagbin’s decision effectively deprives constituents in these districts of their right to representation.

In response to Afenyo-Markin’s suit, the Supreme Court issued an injunction preventing further actions on the vacated seats until it reached a final judgment. Speaker Bagbin filed a motion to challenge this interim ruling, arguing that the injunction obstructed his official duties and asserting that his actions were within his authority to uphold the integrity of Parliament.

The court upheld the injunction, dismissing Bagbin’s appeal to reverse it, which has now set the stage for today's pivotal judgment on this constitutional dispute.