Majority stages walkout over Bagbin’s decision to declare four Seats vacant

The Majority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament staged a dramatic walkout on October 17, 2024, in protest of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s approval of a motion that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.

This bold move by the Speaker has sparked tension, with the Majority Caucus demonstrating their discontent.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament, dissatisfied with the ruling, staged a walkout from the chamber under the leadership of Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The Majority Leader clashed with the Speaker of Parliament after his ruling before walking out of the Chamber.

The motion was filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and argued that the MPs, who are seeking to contest the upcoming December elections as independent candidates, must relinquish their parliamentary positions as outlined in the constitutional provisions governing parliamentary membership.

The MPs affected by this decision are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central).

The motion highlights the interpretation that by announcing their intent to run as independents, these MPs have effectively forfeited their party affiliations, thus vacating their seats in Parliament.