Samuel Atta Akyea, the MP for Abuakwa South, has strongly condemned recent events in Parliament, referring to them as “constitutional lawlessness” that jeopardizes the fragile balance of power within Ghana’s legislative assembly.
His remarks follow a controversial ruling by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on October 17, 2024, which declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
This ruling came after three current Members of Parliament (MPs) announced their intentions to run as independent candidates in the 2024 general elections.
Additionally, the MP for Fomena, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, who entered Parliament as an independent in 2020, revealed his plan to contest the upcoming election under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) banner.
If Bagbin’s ruling were to take effect, it would reduce the NPP’s representation in Parliament, resulting in the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) holding a slim majority—136 seats compared to the NPP’s 135. This potential shift has ignited intense debate in the political sphere.
However, the Supreme Court intervened on October 18, issuing a stay of execution on the Speaker’s decision, which halted the declaration of vacant seats and raised further questions about the constitutional validity of the Speaker’s actions.
In an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on October 21, Atta Akyea voiced serious concerns regarding Bagbin’s ruling, implying that the Speaker may have overstepped his constitutional boundaries.
“In the first instance, a lot of people are thinking through this issue so critically that at a point somebody said he is bringing in a motion that translates into a statement, which he regards as standing orders. A statement of this nature should be referred to the appropriate committee for investigation and report.
Now, the speaker also flouts the standing order and then he says that I will give a ruling and by that ruling, the ruling party becomes a minority.
“So, what is happening is constitutional lawlessness…It is a chaotic situation that I believe is an upfront to the legislature,” he stated.
