The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin has officially declared four parliamentary seats vacant ahead of the general elections.
This follow a petition filed by former minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu to declare four parliamentary seats vacant after NDC’s Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah of Amenfi Central constituency, Andrew Amoakoh Asiamah of Fomena, Kojo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum in the Eastern Region, and NPP’s Cynthia Morrison of Agona West constituency declare their intention to run as Independent candidates.
Haruna Iddrisu invoked Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution to that effect.
“When we reconvene, I am very sure that Parliament and Ghana will go through a major constitutional test. And that constitutional test is that the NDC minority must become the majority from Wednesday next week. And this must happen if there is a constitutional and legal appropriately in Ghana because interpretation of Article 97 provides that if a Member of Parliament on a political party ticket like NPP defects and files to be independent, that MP seizes to be a Member of Parliament” Haruna Iddrisu earlier stated.
“And if an independent Member of Parliament by virtue of the provision of Article 97 (G), a independent joins a political party that loses constitutional recognition and does not belong to Parliament. And even if an NDC Member of Parliament defects to become an independent, he seizes to be a member of parliament. Therefore, we will invoke the proper interpretation of Article 97 by our Standing Orders which means that three NPP MPs do not qualify to be Members of Parliament.” He added.
The ruling is likely to favor the minority in Parliament to take the position as the Majority.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
