The New Patriotic Party (NPP) risks losing its slim majority in Parliament as the Minority pushes to have the seats of four Members of Parliament, including three from the Majority, declared vacant.
This move, spearheaded by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, aims to invoke Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution, which mandates that MPs who contest as independent candidates must vacate their seats.
Haruna Iddrisu has formally written to the Speaker, demanding that the seats be declared vacant, which would shift the current balance of power in Parliament.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds 137 seats, while the NPP has 138. If the motion succeeds, the NDC would gain a parliamentary majority. Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has responded by filing a legal challenge at the Supreme Court to prevent the Minority’s bid.
He referenced a 2020 case where MP Andrew Amoako Asiamah’s seat was declared vacant after he ran as an independent candidate, arguing that the matter requires judicial intervention.
Constitutional lawyer Justice Abdulai, on the matter, noted that the constitutional provision in question is clear, leaving little room for legal interpretation, which could pose significant challenges for the MPs involved.
Among the affected MPs is Cynthia Morrison, MP for Agona West, who plans to contest as an independent candidate. She, who previously sided with the NPP, has been barred from doing so due to allegations that she does not reside in the constituency she seeks to represent, a case currently before the courts.
