Alban Bagbin, the Speaker Parliament of Ghana, has declared four parliamentary seats vacant following a motion that challenged the status of Members of Parliament (MPs) who have announced their intentions to contest the upcoming December elections as independent candidates, a move that has rendered the National Democratic Congress now majority in parliament.
The decision, announced in Parliament on Thursday, affects four MPs who are no longer considered members of their respective political parties. Members of the minority side following the ruling were asked to switch seat to the majority side.
The motion was filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, who argued that the MPs, by seeking to run as independents, had violated constitutional provisions on parliamentary membership. As a result, they must relinquish their seats. The MPs involved are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).
At the core of the motion is the interpretation that by breaking away from their political parties, these MPs have effectively forfeited their party affiliations, thereby vacating their positions in Parliament. This legal interpretation is based on Article 97 of Ghana’s Constitution, which outlines the conditions under which an MP’s seat may become vacant, including situations where members choose to contest as independents.
Speaker Bagbin’s ruling could have significant political ramifications as the country heads into the December elections. The decision is expected to reshape the political dynamics in the affected constituencies, as these now-vacant seats will likely intensify electoral competition and impact the balance of power in Parliament.
Remarks by Alban Bagbin, the Speaker Parliament of Ghana
Honourable members it is important to point that the speaker is called upon by the standing orders of parliament particularly order 18 to inform the house of the occurrence of a vacancy of the seat of a member under clause (1) b to e, g and h of article 97 of the constitution.
Accordingly, I will proceed to inform the house that by the notification of the polls the following MPs are by their actions vacated their seats in parliament. He remarked.
