The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has declared four seat of Members of Parliament vacant.
The decision came after four Members of Parliament announced their intention to run as independent candidates in the upcoming 2024 General Elections, thereby vacating their current party affiliations.
“…I proceed to inform the house that by the Notification of Polls, the following Members [of Parliament] by their actions, have vacated their seats in Parliament”, the Speaker said.
The four MPs are Mr Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Amenfi Central, who is contesting the December 7 polls as an independent candidate and Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah, an independent MP for Fomena, who is contesting on the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) ticket.
The rest are Madam Cynthia Mamle Morrison, NPP MP for Agona West, who is contesting as an independent candidate and Mr Kwadjo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum, who is also contesting as an independent candidate.
The Speaker’s declaration has left the New Patriotic NPP with 135 seats, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds a slender lead with 136 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.