Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has postponed ruling on a petition from the Minority seeking to declare the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant.
The petition, led by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, cites Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, which requires an MP to vacate their seat if they leave the political party they were elected under or choose to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate.
This follows the decision of MPs for Agona West, Suhum, and Amenfi Central to contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates.
The Minority also demands that the Fomena seat be declared vacant, as the Independent MP plans to run in the 2024 elections on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, referenced a similar case in 2020, where the then-Speaker Mike Oquaye upheld the NPP’s argument that Andrew Amoako Asiamah had vacated his seat by choosing to run as an independent candidate. Forson urged Bagbin to enforce the same ruling for the four MPs.
However, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the petition lacks merit, as no political party has formally requested the declaration of the seats as vacant.
He also revealed that he had filed an urgent legal action with the Supreme Court, seeking clarification on the status of the three MPs intending to contest the 2024 elections.
After hearing both sides, Bagbin deferred the ruling, stating that more time was needed to fully consider the constitutional implications before making a comprehensive and fair decision.
