KEY POINTS
- Speaker Bagbin declares four MP seats vacant due to party defection.
- The NDC gains the parliamentary majority with 136 seats.
- NPP challenges the ruling and walks out of Parliament in protest.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant on Thursday after they crossed party lines to either contest as independent candidates or align with new political parties.
The ruling shifts the parliamentary majority to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which now holds 136 seats, while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) drops to 135 seats.
MPs vacate seats due to defection
Speaker Bagbin’s decision followed a petition filed by the Minority on Tuesday, accusing four MPs of violating Article 97 of the Constitution, which stipulates that MPs must vacate their seats if they leave their party or switch to an independent status.
The affected MPs are Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Peter Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central), and Andrew Amoako Asiamah (Fomena).
Morrison and Asante, both NPP MPs, filed to contest the December 2024 elections as independent candidates. Kwakye-Ackah, an NDC MP, also filed as an independent candidate. Meanwhile, Amoako Asiamah, an independent MP for Fomena, aligned with the NPP for the upcoming elections.
In his ruling, Speaker Bagbin stated that these MPs had effectively vacated their seats by contesting elections under different circumstances from their original positions, which led to their removal from Parliament.
NPP challenges ruling, walks out
Following the ruling, the NPP expressed its disagreement and announced plans to seek an interpretation of Article 97 at the Supreme Court.
The party’s leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin, led the NPP MPs in a walkout, stating that the NPP would not return to the House until the Supreme Court resolves the matter.
The NPP’s legal team argues that the interpretation of Article 97 concerning the vacation of seats due to party defection should be clarified. The Supreme Court case will focus on determining whether the Speaker’s ruling aligns with constitutional provisions.
Political implications for the December election
The Speaker’s decision marks a significant shift in the political dynamics ahead of the December 2024 general elections. With the NDC now holding the majority in Parliament, the balance of power could affect legislative decisions in the months leading to the elections.
According to Graphic Online, the ruling has raised concerns about party loyalty and the practice of MPs switching parties after being elected.
Speaker Bagbin emphasized that Article 97 is intended to preserve party allegiance and ensure that MPs represent the political platforms on which they were elected. The vacated seats will likely prompt by-elections in the affected constituencies.
