A former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, has said the former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has no locus to interfere in affairs outside his caucus.
He says the Members of Parliament who have decided to contest as independent, except one, are not from his party and caucus in Parliament and cannot decide what should be done to them.
The Minority seeks to have the seats of Agona West MP Cynthia Morrison, Suhum MP Kwadwo Asante, and Amenfi Central MP Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah declared vacant.
They also argue that the Fomena seat should be declared vacant following the Independent MP’s decision to contest the 2024 elections under the NPP’s banner.
But, the former Speaker, Prof. Ocquaye, who at his time removed Andrews Amoako Asiamah, the Fomena MP, making him contest as independent four years ago says the Minority has no grounds to call for the removal of the MPs who are outside the Minority caucus.
“It’s wrong because the benefit is not his [Haruna Iddrisu] the law doesn’t stand to his inurement. That’s why I talked about the husband and wife. He has no locus because he doesn’t belong to the party involved. Is it you who should say there’s a problem in my house?
“You say I have a problem with my wife and I’m saying I have no problem with my wife, what are you talking about,” he told Accra-based JoyNews Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, deferred the ruling on the Minority’s petition seeking to declare the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant.
He said he needs more time to think through the issue to come out with a ruling.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter saying the apex court’s interpretation of the development would be paramount.
Instigated by Haruna Iddrisu, former Minority Leader, the petition aims to invoke Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution, which stipulates that an MP must vacate his or her seat if the person abandons the political party under which they were elected, or if they opt to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate.
Speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Tuesday, October 15, 2024, a constitutional lawyer, Justice Abdulai, indicated that he does not foresee the Speaker being prevented from carrying out the procedure as a result of the suit.
“I see the Speaker simply ignoring or throwing away the intervention of the Majority and proceed into hearing the motion and as to whether the motion itself will be decided in favour of the Majority or the Minority is a different issue that completely cannot be influenced by this intervention that has been made by the Majority Leader.”
