Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin
On Thursday, October 17, 2024, Speaker Alban Bagbin ruled in favour of the NDC caucus after deliberating on a petition from Tamale South MP Haruna Iddrisu (presented by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson) to declare four seats in the House vacant.
Reading his ruling on Thursday, October 17, 2024, the Speaker noted that the decision by the affected MPs to contest in the December 7, 2024, election as independent or on the ticket of a party different from the party on whose ticket they currently serve, contravened Article 97 (g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution.
He noted that the motive and operational effect of Article 97(g) and (h) was to cure the issues of cross carpeting and defection as witnessed in parliaments of old.
He stated that the intent of Article 97 (g) (i) was to cure party loyalty throughout the stay of an MP in Parliament.
He emphasised that the affected MPs by their decision and the Notice of Polls issued by the Electoral Commission for the December 7, 2024, parliamentary elections have vacated their seat.
“Accordingly, I proceed to inform the House that by the notification of the polls, the following Members have, by their actions, vacated their seats in Parliament. The members are Hon. Yew Peter Kwakye Ackah, NDC MP for Amenfi Central in the Western Region, now referred to as an Independent Parliamentary candidate in the same constituency; Hon. Andrew Amoako Asiamah, Independent Member for Fomena Constituency in the Ashanti Region, now referred to as the NPP parliamentary candidate for the constituency; Hon. Kojo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum in the Eastern Region, now referred to as an independent candidate for the same region; and finally, Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, NPP MP for Agona West Constituency in the Central Region, now referred to as an independent candidate for the same constituency.
“These persons cannot be allowed by law and my good self to continue to pretend to be representing people that they don’t believe in and they don’t have any loyalty for in this House any longer. The House is accordingly so informed,” he stated.
Below is the full ruling of the Speaker:
BAI/OGB
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