PLAYBACK: What Tsatsu Tsikata said on GHOne TV interview about Afenyo-Markin's petition on vacant seats

Renowned legal practitioner and academic, Tsatsu Tsikata has raised questions with the petition filed by the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin on the correct position of the law regarding Article 97(1) (g) and (h), the constitutional provision that the Speaker of Parliament recently used to declare four seats in Parliament vacant.

A seven-member panel of the court, presided over by the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has fixed Tuesday, November 12, 2024 for judgement.

Mr Tsatsu Tsikata in an interview with GHOne TV aired on Monday, November 11, 2024 expressed his opinion on the case and indicated for instance that the Supreme Court should not have entertained Afenyo-Markin's suit based on the rules set by the Supreme Court.

He argued that Mr Afenyo-Markin's writ contained deficiencies and should have been deemed void according to Supreme Court rules.

Below is a video of the interview and some excerpts:

• There is no legal basis for the staying of an execution of the decision of a speaker.
• It is problematic for the Supreme Court to proceed with the case without considering Speaker Bagbin's side.
• The numerous errors in the way things, undermine the credibility of the Supreme Court."
• Afenyo-Markin's writ contained deficiencies and should have been deemed void according to Supreme Court rules."
• Afenyo-Markin in his writ asked for the interpretation of Article 97(g). The Supreme Court had no reason to talk about 97(h) in the ruling."
• The Supreme Court engaged in a lot of missteps and it is important to correct it for the sake of the future."
• It is not enough to say that the President has too much power and that the constitution must be reviewed. We need to learn to hold leaders accountable for their failures."
• I am voting for John Mahama because of the clear failures of the current government."
• Mahama's performance during his previous term was much better than what we have seen in recent times."
• The depth to which we have sunk, not only in terms of the economy but also in governance, makes it hard to justify voting for someone, who as Vice President, was deeply involved."
• I never harboured any bitterness against President Kuffuor. He was determined to have me and later offered me a pardon in bad faith."