Bagbin Declares 4 Parliamentary Seats Vacant

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin has officially declared four parliamentary seats vacant.

This declaration signifies a notable shift in the parliamentary landscape, indicating that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has now assumed the role of the majority. As part of this development, the second Deputy Speaker will be appointed from among the members of the NDC.

In addition, the NDC will designate a Majority Leader, and will also have the authority to chair various parliamentary committees. This alter marks a crucial moment for governance and collaboration in Parliament.

Former Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, had petitioned the Speaker; requesting the declaration of certain seats as vacant. This request is grounded in Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a lawmaker must vacate their seat if they choose to leave the party under which they were elected or seek to persist serving in Parliament as an independent candidate.

later, Speaker Bagbin during today's sitting, declared the seat vacant saying: “Honourable members it is significant to point that the speaker is called upon by the standing orders of parliament particularly order 18 to inform the house of the occurrence of a vacancy of the seat of a member under clause (1) b to e, g and h of article 97 of the constitution. Accordingly, I will proceed to inform the house that by the notification of the polls, the following MPs are by their actions vacated their seats in parliament”

1. Cynthia Morrison, the current NPP MP for Agona West constituency in the Central Region, now referred to as an independent candidate for the same constituency.

2. Kwadwo Asante, the current NPP MP for the Suhum constituency in the Eastern Region, has filed to run as an independent candidate.

3. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, currently an independent MP for the Fomena constituency in the Ashanti Region, has filed to run in the upcoming election as a candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

4. Peter Kwakye-Ackah, Amenfi Central, NDC who has filed to contest as an independent candidate.Rebeca Addo Tetteh/