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The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, has declared four parliamentary seats vacant, a significant development just two months before the December 2024 elections.
This ruling shifts the balance of power in Parliament, favoring the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which now holds 136 seats, while the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) retains 135 seats.
The affected MPs are Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah (NDC) of Amenfi Central, Andrew Amoakoh Asiamah (Independent, Fomena), Kojo Asante (NPP) of Suhum, and Cynthia Morrison (NPP) of Agona West. Speaker Bagbin’s decision was based on Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates that MPs vacate their seats if they leave their party or choose to run as independent candidates.
This declaration comes after a petition by NDC MP Haruna Iddrisu, sparking heated debates in Parliament. The ruling underscores growing political tensions, with the opposition now holding a slight edge in the hung parliament, previously dominated by the NPP with the support of the independent MP for Fomena.
The situation has raised legal and constitutional discussions, with some arguing that the political parties themselves should initiate the process to declare seats vacant. However, constitutional experts like Professor Kofi Abotsi of the UPSA Law School maintain that any citizen or entity can report an MP for violating constitutional provisions, reinforcing that MPs are ultimately accountable to the Constitution above all.
This development sets the stage for a highly competitive political environment leading up to the elections.
