Private legal practitioner Julius Opoku Agyei has clarified that Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has shown no unwillingness to comply with the Supreme Court order concerning the status of four disputed parliamentary seats.
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, November 10, Opoku Agyei emphasized that the Speaker’s actions, including a formal request to the Supreme Court to reconsider its stay order, reflect a respect for judicial authority rather than defiance.
“The Speaker has not prevented the four MPs from attending Parliament, so it cannot be said that he’s in contempt of the court order. By seeking to have the Supreme Court vacate its orders, he is acknowledging the authority of the court, rather than ignoring it,” he explained.
The controversy began when Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant, a decision subsequently reversed by the Supreme Court, allowing the MPs to retain their seats temporarily.
This ruling, however, has intensified tensions in the House, with NPP members accusing NDC MPs of creating a hostile environment that indirectly obstructs the affected MPs from participating in parliamentary proceedings.
Opoku Agyei noted that while the Speaker’s actions appear compliant with the court’s directive, his position as the leader of Parliament also means he bears some responsibility to ensure that the Supreme Court’s orders are not undermined.
“If people under your authority are acting in ways that hinder the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s decision, you share some responsibility,” he said on Joy News.
This tension has resulted in two recent adjournments in Parliament due to the lack of quorum, as the absence of these MPs has left the House unable to conduct its scheduled business.