ALEXANDER AFENYO MARKIN vs. SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT AND ATTORNEY - GENERAL

The plaintiff/applicant, Alexander Afenyo Markin, invoked the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional propriety of a ruling delivered by the Speaker of Parliament on 17 October 2024 declaring vacant the seats of four Members of Parliament: Andrew Asiamah Amoako (Fomena), Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), and Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central). The applicant contended that the Speaker acted despite being aware that a constitutional action concerning the interpretation and application of article 97(1)(g) and (h) was pending before the Supreme Court, and that the affected MPs were not heard before the declaration was made. The applicant further argued that the ruling would deprive the four constituencies of parliamentary representation, disrupt parliamentary business, and render the substantive constitutional action nugatory if not stayed. Portion indicating this: the applicant’s submissions beginning 'We have an application ExParte for Stay of Execution...' and the Court’s recital that 'The Plaintiff/Applicant has presented this present ex parte application for stay of execution of a ruling of the Speaker of Parliament declaring vacant the seats of 4 MPs...'