Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, also known as Kwaku Azar, has criticized Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
According to him, the ruling raises concerns over the implications on Ghana’s democratic governance and MPs’ autonomy.
This ruling, according to Kwaku Asare, sets a dangerous precedent that may discourage MPs from pursuing future political ambitions due to fear of reprisal.
Kwaku Asare’s concerns were expressed in a Facebook post where he argued that the decision could destabilize the balance of power determined by the electorate and restrict MPs from exploring their political futures. He emphasized that such rulings may deter lawmakers from pursuing independent or diverse political paths, undermining the fundamental right to freedom of association.
“This ruling sets a dangerous precedent, undermining MPs’ ability to plan their political futures without fear of immediate consequences.
It allows for arbitrary decisions where filing a nomination for a future election could be misinterpreted as a shift in allegiance in the current parliament, regardless of the MP’s current conduct,” portions of his post read.
The affected MPs are Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kwadjo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah Amoako (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central). The Speaker’s decision was prompted by a motion filed by former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, citing constitutional provisions that require MPs seeking independent candidacy to relinquish their parliamentary positions.
