NPP legislators in Parliament boycotted parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, October 17, 2024, following the declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant by the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.
The verdict means that Parliament, which previously favoured the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) as the Majority with the support of Independent Member of Parliament Andrew Amoako Asiamah, will now shift towards benefiting the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The ruling implies that the NDC has 136 seats while the NPP now has 135 seats.
The leader of the NPP Caucus, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, addressed the press shortly after the speaker’s ruling.
The MP for Effutu Constituency indicated that his side will continue to boycott parliamentary proceedings until the Supreme Court decides on the case.
“It is so clear. We, as the majority, are boycotting Parliament until the matter is determined by the Supreme Court. The speaker has no right to interpret the Constitution. It was in favour of the NDC. If the court makes any judgement, we will respect that,” he noted while addressing journalists.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, declared the four parliamentary seats vacant because of the decision of four MPs to cross carpets ahead of the upcoming December 7 elections.
The affected MPs are Peter Kwakyi Ackah of Amenfi Central, Cynthia Morrison of Agona West, Kwadjo Asante of Suhum, and Andrew Asiamah of Fomena.
While Peter Kwakyi Ackah, Cynthia Morrison, and Kwadjo Asante are contesting as independent candidates, Andrew Asiamah, who was in the House as an independent MP, is contesting the seat on the ticket of the NPP in the next elections.