Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo on Wednesday, 30 October 2024, admonished Thaddeus Sory, the lawyer representing the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, for failing to meet the filing deadline on critical documents in the high-profile case concerning four disputed parliamentary seats.

During proceedings, the Chief Justice questioned the delay, emphasising the urgent need to resolve what she termed a “constitutional crisis.”

She asserted: “This is a constitutional crisis; we’re living in a country where Parliament is not sitting. What is going on?”

The Chief Justice directed Mr. Sory to submit all necessary filings by close of business on Thursday, 31 October 2024, underscoring that the matter is of “national emergency.”

The hearing was then adjourned until Monday, 11 November 2024, to allow for timely submissions.

Separately, the Supreme Court issued a decisive ruling on an appeal filed by Speaker Bagbin to overturn an earlier decision that had temporarily halted his declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.

Speaker Bagbin’s legal team had argued that the Court lacked jurisdiction over the issue.

However, after extensive arguments from all parties, including Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Court ruled that its prior judgment was sound, stating that the Speaker’s appeal was “without merit.”

This latest decision upholds the suspension of the Speaker’s move to vacate the seats, following a case initiated by New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus leader and Effutu MP, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, challenging Bagbin’s authority on the matter.