Speaker declares four Parliamentary seats vacant following Minority leader's petition

Speaker declares four Parliamentary seats vacant following Minority leader’s petition

In a significant development on the floor of Parliament, the Speaker of the House has declared the seats of four Members of Parliament vacant, following allegations of defection and breach of constitutional provisions.

This follows a formal petition raised by the Minority Leader, Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, under Order 93 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, citing potential violations of Articles 97(1)(g) and (h) of the 1992 Constitution.

The Minority Leader had informed the House that the affected MPs had either defected from their respective political parties or chosen to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections as independent candidates.

Among the MPs implicated were Hon. Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah (Amenfi Central, NDC), Hon. Andrews Asiamah Amoako (Fomena, Independent), Hon. Kwadjo Asante (Suhum, NPP), and Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison (Agona West, NPP).

In his submission, the Speaker, while addressing the House, emphasized the importance of adhering to Article 97, which governs the conditions under which an MP must vacate their seat.

He explained that the Constitution prohibits “cross-carpeting,” where a member elected on the ticket of one political party switches allegiance or becomes an independent while still serving in Parliament.

Drawing attention to the precedent set in 2020, the Speaker highlighted that the decision made by the then-Speaker to declare a seat vacant under similar circumstances does not bind future Speakers.

However, he made clear that the current situation, with the notice of poll already available from the Electoral Commission, provides undeniable proof of the MPs’ actions.

The Speaker concluded by declaring the four MPs’ seats vacant, stating that this action upholds the integrity of parliamentary representation and prevents political instability.

With these developments, the balance of power in Parliament could shift, as the Minority Leader suggested that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) would gain a numerical advantage, holding 136 seats against the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 135.

The decision has sparked further debate on the interpretation of constitutional provisions regarding party loyalty and political defection, with the issue now potentially set to be addressed in the Supreme Court.

Story By: Robicon Mornahson