The Majority caucus in Parliament has adamantly stated that it will never occupy the seats designated for the Minority, intensifying the political conflict surrounding the ongoing dispute over four vacant parliamentary seats.
Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin made this bold assertion on Monday, November 11th, following a Supreme Court ruling that stayed Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of the four seats as vacant. The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its final judgment on the matter on Tuesday, November 12th.
The controversy centers on Speaker Bagbin’s decision to declare the seats vacant after finding that the four Members of Parliament (MPs) in question – Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena) and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central) – had violated constitutional requirements.
The Majority argues that the Speaker overstepped his authority by making the declaration without judicial review or the initiation of by-elections. Afenyo-Markin has urged the Speaker to uphold parliamentary procedures and called on the Minority to vacate the seats they currently occupy, returning them to the Majority MPs.
The situation escalated when several Minority MPs occupied the seats designated for the Majority following a recall of Parliament by the Speaker. This led to a standoff, with the Minority demanding that the Majority appear in Parliament to address their actions.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the situation must be resolved according to the Constitution, maintaining the integrity of Parliament. He declared that “No NPP person will [occupy the Minority seats]”.
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