New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament have pledged to boycott parliamentary proceedings after Speaker Alban Bagbin’s ruling cost them their majority in Parliament.
On Thursday, October 17, Speaker Bagbin declared the seats of four MPs—Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central)—vacant. These MPs, who were elected on the tickets of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC), filed to contest as independent candidates in the upcoming December elections.
The ruling was based on Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution, which states that MPs who stand as independent candidates must vacate their seats. Speaker Bagbin argued that the constitutional provision would be redundant if it only applied to future parliaments, as the MPs would have already completed their current terms.
Bagbin further clarified that the previous decision by former Speaker Prof. Mike Oquaye, who expelled the Fomena MP after the NPP informed him of the MP’s intention to run as an independent candidate, was not binding on him or any future Speaker.
‘You don’t listen… resume your seat!’—Tensions flared between Majority Leader Afenyo Markin and Speaker Alban Bagbin during a dispute over the Speaker’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.#CitiNewsroom#GhanaPolls2024#CitiVerify#ElectionBureau pic.twitter.com/lf9aav2FpG
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) October 17, 2024
With the confirmation that the four MPs would run as independents, the Speaker ruled that they could no longer serve in the current Parliament, declaring their seats vacant. This ruling reduced the NPP’s numbers from 138 to 135, handing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a slim majority of 136 seats.
Former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu initiated the petition for their removal, while Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin challenged the Speaker’s decision at the Supreme Court. Despite this, Minority Leader Ato Forson, now Majority Leader, praised Bagbin for his “firm” stance. As a result of the ruling, Andrew Asiamah also ceased to serve as the Second Deputy Speaker.
In protest, NPP MPs have vowed to abstain from the chamber until the Supreme Court addresses the matter, leaving Parliament with a new power dynamic. This was communicated by now Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
