The Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has asserted that the determination of majority or minority status in Parliament should be based on actual numbers in the House, rather than decisions by the Supreme Court or the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His remarks follow a dispute that arose after Speaker Alban Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant, sparking uncertainty over the majority status in Parliament. Both the NDC and NPP caucuses have since claimed the majority position.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Supreme Court in Accra ruled against Speaker Bagbin’s decision, supporting a challenge led by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. In a 5-2 ruling headed by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Court found that Bagbin’s interpretation of Article 97(1)(g) of the Ghanaian Constitution did not justify his declaration.
The affected MPs included Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central), who had run as independents, and Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), an NPP candidate.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Mr. Vanderpuye emphasized that parliamentary standing orders—not judicial rulings or NPP directives—should govern the designation of majority and minority status in the House.
He argued that such matters are strictly internal to Parliament and should be resolved based on its composition.
“We want them to understand one fact: as far as we are concerned, majority or minority status is determined by the numbers in the House. When we reconvene, the numbers will reveal who holds the majority. This is not a matter for the Supreme Court.
“It is not for the NPP or the Supreme Court to decide who is the majority or minority in Ghana’s Parliament. We have our own procedures for determining this. When the NPP was declared the majority by Speaker Bagbin, did they seek Supreme Court validation for that declaration?”
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