News:
Rt. Hon Alban K. Sumana Bagbin
October 18, 2024
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin on Thursday declared four seats vacant.
The four seats; three from the Majority caucus and one from the Minority side include NDC’s Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah of Amenfi Central constituency in the Western Region, Andrew Amoakoh Asiamah of Fomena in the Ashanti Region, Kojo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum in the Eastern Region, and NPP’s Cynthia Morrison of Agona West constituency
The speaker’s declaration follows notice of petition brought before him by the former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu urging him to declare the said seats vacant since the Members of Parliament from those constituencies have filed to contest the upcoming December parliamentary election as independent candidates with the only independent MP now contesting on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.
The Speaker explained that Article 97 (1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution necessitates that an MP must vacate their seat if they leave the party under which they were elected or attempt to continue in Parliament as an independent candidate.
He emphasized that the constitutional provision would be meaningless if it only applied to future parliaments, as the MPs in question would have completed their term by then.
The development has thus caused a power shift in the House with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) forming the majority with 136 as against the New Patriotic Party in the Minority with 135 seats.
Until this ruling, the NPP had the numerical advantage with 138 seats supported by the only independent MP, while the opposition NDC had 137 seats.
Ghanamps.com