The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has clarified that it is premature to declare the Member of Parliament for Kpandai, Hon. Matthew Nyindam, disqualified from participating in Parliamentary proceedings.
The statement follows the Tamale High Court’s annulment of the 2024 Parliamentary election results for the Kpandai Constituency. In a formal communication to the House, Speaker Bagbin explained that the period between Parliament being served with the court’s decision and 1st December 2025 falls within the seven-day mandatory stay of execution.
“This is not a declaration order; this is an execution order delivered by a High Court. He is right to have participated in the debate,” the Speaker emphasized.
Speaker Bagbin cited the Court of Appeal rules, noting that under the 1997 CI 19, as amended in 2020 CI 132 rule 27/3, “there shall be a stay of execution of judgment or decision appeal against for a period of seven (7) days immediately following a given notice of judgment or decision.”
He added that this mandatory rule applies to all High Court decisions capable of appeal, underscoring that Hon. Nyindam retains his parliamentary status until the expiration of the stay of execution.
The clarification aims to provide legal certainty and prevent premature interpretations regarding the MP’s participation in House activities.