Declaring seats vacant at a time when fresh elections can’t be immediately held is wrong – Gyampo

Professor Ransford Gyampo, a political scientist at the University of Ghana, has criticized Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, arguing that this move stifles representation and denies constituents their voice in Parliament. He emphasized that declaring seats vacant based on a future intention of sitting MPs is unnecessary and undermines the principle of parliamentary representation.

Professor Gyampo also highlighted that, according to Article 99 of the 1992 Constitution, only the High Courts have the authority to determine questions relating to the vacation of parliamentary seats, not the Speaker or political parties. He believes that both Speakers Bagbin and Oquaye misinterpreted the law by failing to consider its historical context, which was meant to prevent party-hopping within the same parliamentary term, not penalize MPs for their future political ambitions.

Gyampo pointed out that this law, rooted in Ghana’s political history, was designed to maintain stability and prevent MPs from switching parties during their term due to political pressures. He further warned that the ruling sets a bad precedent that could harm the integrity of Ghana’s democratic processes in the future.

In his statement, Gyampo urged all political actors to move beyond unprincipled politics that distort the nation’s laws and history, cautioning that short-term political gains could have long-lasting negative consequences.