News:
September 25, 2012
The embattled independent Member of Parliament for Bosome-Freho, Hon Ofori Kuragu, has served notice he is ready to abdicate his seat if the Speaker of Parliament rules against him for contesting primaries on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Hon. Kuragu was one of three independent legislators who openly partook in partisan Parliamentary primaries over the weekend. The others are the MP for Bekwai, Hon Joe Osei-Owusu, and MP for Nkawkaw, Hon Seth Agyei Baah (Shaaba). Kuragu and Baah lost the primaries.
Political pundits have called for their resignation since their actions contravene some provisions of the 1992 Constitution.
Article 97 (1) (H) of the Constitution states that “A Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he was elected a Member of Parliament as an Independent Candidate and joins a political party.”
Standing Order 18 of the rules of the House provides that the seat of a member shall be declared vacant by Mr. Speaker under Clause (1) (b) to (h) of Article 97 of the Constitution.
Hon Kuragu said he operated within the confines of the Supreme law of Ghana.
“I have listened to various points of views on the matter, but the truth is three months before the general elections, there can’t be a by-election and that is what the Constitution says. I went into primaries with the New Patriotic Party within the three months,” the legislator told Accra-based Joy FM.
Citifmonline.com