Businessman Sues 4 Vacant-Seats MPs At The Accra High Court
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Benjamin Yemoh Tetteh, a Ghanaian businessman, has initiated legal action at the High Court to support Speaker Alban Bagbin’s recent declaration that four parliamentary seats are vacant. Tetteh’s suit contends that Speaker Bagbin acted within his constitutional authority when he ruled that the MPs vacated their seats by submitting nomination forms to the Electoral Commission for different roles. By filing nomination forms, Tetteh argues, the MPs effectively abandoned their current parliamentary positions, aligning with Article 97(1)(g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution, which outlines grounds for seat forfeiture.
The lawsuit names as defendants Speaker Alban Bagbin and the four MPs affected by the ruling: Andrew Asiamah Adomako, Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Kwadwo Asante, and Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah. Tetteh’s suit requests multiple legal remedies, including:
Court Validation of Bagbin’s Ruling: Tetteh seeks a formal declaration from the court affirming Speaker Bagbin’s decision as valid and consistent with Ghana’s constitutional mandates.
Interlocutory and Perpetual Injunctions: The businessman is calling for immediate and permanent injunctions preventing the four MPs from representing themselves as sitting members of Ghana’s 8th Parliament. This would restrict them from accessing the parliamentary chamber until a final court decision is reached.
Orders for Physical Removal and Denial of Access: Tetteh further requests that the court direct Speaker Bagbin to enforce these restrictions by removing the MPs from the Chamber of Parliament and denying them future access to it.
Tetteh’s suit reflects growing tensions around Ghana’s parliamentary processes and the implications of MPs pursuing roles outside their current mandates. The High Court’s decision in this case could set an important precedent regarding MPs’ eligibility and continuity of service when other political interests come into play.