The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has approved a petition from the Minority, leading to the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant.
The MPs affected—Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central)—became embroiled in controversy after announcing their intention to contest the upcoming December elections as independent candidates.
The Minority contended that this action amounted to a voluntary resignation from their party affiliations, resulting in the vacating of their parliamentary seats.
In his ruling on Thursday, October 17, Speaker Bagbin stated that the decision was made in line with constitutional provisions regarding parliamentary membership. He highlighted that expressing the intention to run as an independent candidate signifies a departure from party loyalty.
This ruling has ignited debates within political circles, with some praising it as a necessary step to maintain party integrity, while others view it as an overreach that could undermine democratic choice.
The ruling will not only affect the MPs involved but also influence the dynamics of the upcoming elections, as their constituencies must now address the implications of this decision.
Bagbin’s ruling is reminiscent of a similar incident in 2020 when then-Speaker Mike Oquaye made a controversial decision regarding Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the MP for Fomena.
In October 2020, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) formally asked Speaker Oquaye to invoke Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution, which permits declaring a seat vacant under certain conditions.
Oquaye agreed, resulting in Asiamah’s expulsion from Parliament after he chose to run as an independent.
However, Speaker Bagbin clarified that Oquaye’s prior ruling does not set a precedent for his decisions, asserting that each Speaker has the authority to make independent rulings.
He stated that once the notice of polls confirmed the four MPs’ intentions to run as independents, they could no longer hold their seats in the current Parliament.
Before Bagbin’s ruling, Oquaye had voiced concerns, arguing that such petitions should come from the NPP rather than any outside party, hoping the current Speaker would not consider the motion to declare the seats vacant.
