Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have declared that their sole authority for directives within Parliament is the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.

This statement follows the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the execution of Speaker Bagbin’s ruling, which declared the seats of four MPs vacant due to a switch in political allegiance. The five-member Supreme Court panel, led by the Chief Justice, granted the stay after an ex parte application by the Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin.

During a press conference held by NDC MPs on Sunday, Mahama Ayariga, the MP for Bawku Central, expressed the caucus’s unawareness of any legal provision that allows the suspension of the Speaker’s decision.

“We are not aware of any law or constitutional provision that permits the suspension of a properly constituted decision by the Speaker of Parliament,” Ayariga emphasized. He cited Articles 1(30) and 2 of the Constitution, which empower the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of actions, but questioned the legal grounds for halting a directive from the Speaker.

Ayariga further clarified that NDC MPs act solely based on communications from the Speaker. “We do not rely on news reports or social media posts to guide our actions. If the Right Honourable Speaker instructs us to walk into the sea, we will follow because we adhere strictly to his directives,” he added, underscoring their commitment to the Speaker’s leadership within the Chamber.