Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has stated that he and Speaker Alban Bagbin concurred on the misstep made by then-Speaker Mike Ocquaye in declaring Andrew Asiamah’s seat vacant in 2020.
“Bagbin agreed with me that Ocquaye was wrong to declare that seat vacant,” Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu revealed, highlighting a significant disagreement over parliamentary procedures.
Reflecting on the recent declaration of four vacant seats in Parliament, he noted the unprecedented nature of these actions.
“We have never seen anything like this before, especially with the number of seats being declared vacant.
It raises serious concerns about our constitutional integrity,” he stated, urging caution to prevent a constitutional crisis.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed concern about the uncertainty following the Supreme Court’s intervention in the matter.
“Nobody knew how the Speaker would react to the Supreme Court’s ruling. Given his track record, he has been very vocal about what he sees as interference in the work of Parliament,” he explained.
He also drew parallels to a historical precedent from 1993, involving Alhaji B.A. Fuseini, to underscore the potential consequences of escalating tensions within Parliament.
“This kind of escalation can lead to serious ramifications. We must remember that intent to leave a party does not equate to resignation from Parliament,” he cautioned.
Alban Bagbin agreed with me that Mike Ocquaye was wrong to declare Andrew Asiamah's seat vacant in 2020 – Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.#PMExpress pic.twitter.com/N05YKfxA8b
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 28, 2024
