The seats of four members of Parliament (MPs) have been declared vacant for crossing carpet.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin gave his ruling on the matter on Thursday evening [Oct 17] following a petition filed by Minority side last Tuesday.
The Speaker ruled that the four MPs by their various actions for deciding to file to contest the December 7, 2024 parliamentary election in different capacities, as either independent candidates or on the ticket of a political party by that action, have vacated their seats in the current Parliament.
The four MPs are Cynthia Mamle Morrison for Agona West, Kwadjo Asante for Suhum, both NPP MPs who have filed to contest the next parliamentary election as independent candidates and Peter Kwakye-Ackah for Amenfi Central, an NDC MP who has also filed to contest the next election as an independent candidate.
The fourth MP is Andrew Amoako Asiamah, MP for Fomena who is also the Second Deputy Speaker, who was elected as an independent candidate but has filed to contest the next election on the ticket of the NPP.
Thursday evening’s ruling by the Speaker means the NDC now has the majority seats in Parliament with 136 seats while the NPP now has 135 seats.
Article 97 states the grounds on which an MP may vacate the seat: “1) A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament—
“(g) if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member; or “(h) if he was elected a member of Parliament as an independent candidate and joins a political party.
Meanwhile, the NPP side in Parliament has already filed a suit at the Supreme Court seeking an interpretation of Article 97 in relation to the current ruling by the Speaker.
The NPP side has indicated that they are not going to be in the House until the Supreme Court determines the matter.
The NPP leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin had challenged the Speaker’s ruling and after that, walked out of the House together with all members of the NPP side.
Meanwhile, Parliament has adjourned to Tuesday, October 22.