Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman has expressed concern over the timing of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant. This decision has sparked intense political debate and heightened tensions, particularly with Ghana’s upcoming elections looming.
The vacant seats belonged to Cynthia Mamle Morrison (NPP, Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (NPP, Suhum), Peter Kwakye-Ackah (NDC, Amenfi Central), and Andrew Amoako Asiamah, an independent MP from Fomena who recently rejoined the NPP. Speaker Bagbin’s ruling was prompted by accusations that these MPs breached constitutional provisions.
Dr. Draman questioned the timing of this significant ruling, emphasizing that such decisions require careful consideration of their far-reaching implications for Parliament’s functioning and Ghana’s democratic processes. He suggested seeking court interpretation to resolve the issue, urging Ghanaians to await the court’s verdict.
Additionally, Dr. Draman cautioned against the NPP’s potential boycott of Parliament, citing its ill timing with elections nearing. He stressed that the legal framework allows for declaring vacant seats but handling such decisions with extreme care and thorough deliberation is crucial.
