Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament in Ghana, has criticized the minority caucus for their demand to remove three NPP MPs and one NDC MP from the legislature.
The minority is seeking to have the seats of Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadwo Asante (Suhum), and Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central) declared vacant because they are contesting the December elections as independent candidates.
Additionally, they argue that the Fomena seat should be vacated since Independent MP Andrew Amoako Asiamah is running for the 2024 elections under the NPP’s banner.
However, Prof. Oquaye, who ironically removed an NPP MP from the chamber four years ago, contends that the NDC lacks the grounds to file a motion concerning the opposition side.
The petition was initiated by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.
“It’s wrong because the benefit is not his [Haruna Iddrisu]; the law does not support his claim. That’s why I referred to the analogy of husband and wife. He has no standing because he doesn’t belong to the party involved.
Can you declare there’s a problem in my house when I say there’s no issue with my wife?” he remarked.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has postponed his ruling on the minority’s petition to declare the four parliamentary seats vacant.
The petition, spearheaded by Haruna Iddrisu, aims to enforce Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution, which requires MPs to vacate their seats if they abandon their party or remain in Parliament as independent candidates.
