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Minority MPs Intend Boycotting Parliamentary Proceedings After Speaker Verdict:
NPP Members of Parliament have vowed to boycott parliamentary proceedings following a ruling by Speaker Alban Bagbin, which resulted in the loss of their parliamentary majority.
This was communicated by now Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin .
On Thursday, October 17, Speaker Bagbin declared vacant the seats of four MPs—Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central)—after they filed to contest as independent candidates in the upcoming December elections. This ruling, which cited Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution, shifted the balance of power in Parliament, granting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) a slim majority with 136 seats over the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 135.
In his ruling, Speaker Bagbin explained that if Article 97(1)(g) were only applicable to a future parliament, it would be irrelevant since the MPs in question would have completed their terms. He further emphasized that the decision by former Speaker Prof. Mike Oquaye to expel the Fomena MP in a similar situation was not binding on him or any future Speaker.
With the confirmation from the notice of polls that the four MPs would be running as independent candidates, Bagbin ruled that they no longer had the right to retain their seats in the current parliament, leading to the declaration of the vacancies.
In response, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin filed a legal challenge at the Supreme Court, contesting the Speaker’s ruling. Despite this, Minority Leader Ato Forson praised Speaker Bagbin for “standing firm” in his decision. Ato Forson now assumes the role of Majority Leader, while Afenyo-Markin moves to the Minority side.
Following the ruling, NPP MPs have vowed to abstain from attending parliamentary sessions until the matter is addressed by the Supreme Court.
