Parliament has refuted claims circulating on social media that Speaker Alban Bagbin has been invited to meet President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to negotiate a settlement regarding his recent ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
In an official statement, Parliament asserted that the insinuations in a viral video are entirely false.
“The attention of Parliament has been drawn to a video circulating on social media insinuating that the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has been invited to a meeting with the President to negotiate a settlement in respect of the pronouncement by the Rt. Hon. Speaker on Thursday, 17th October 2024,” the statement read. It clarified that the video was taken on July 4, 2024, when the Speaker presented the maiden Democracy Cup to the President.
Parliament criticized the attempt to misrepresent the video as an effort to undermine the integrity of the Speaker and the institution itself, calling the action “disingenuous and unfortunate.” The public is advised to disregard these misleading claims.
On October 17, Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant, which include:
- Cynthia Morrison (NPP, Agona West)
- Kwadwo Asante (NPP, Suhum)
- Andrew Asiamah Amoako (Independent, Fomena)
- Peter Kwakye Ackah (NDC, Amenfi Central)
The former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, had petitioned the Speaker to declare these seats vacant based on Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, which requires lawmakers to vacate their seats if they leave the party under which they were elected or attempt to serve as independent candidates.
However, on October 18, the Supreme Court instructed Parliament to allow the four MPs to continue serving until the case is resolved.
