Ghana’s ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced a boycott of parliament after two of its seats were declared vacant, leaving the party in the minority just seven weeks before the general election.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the leader of government business in the 275-member chamber, told Accra’s Citi FM on Friday that the NPP is “immediately boycotting parliament until this matter is determined by the Supreme Court.” He criticized the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, stating that “the speaker has no right to interpret the constitution.”
Bagbin declared the seats vacant after two NPP lawmakers chose to run as independent candidates in the upcoming December 7 election. This move shifted the balance of power in the chamber, where the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) had also lost a seat when one of its members decided to run as an independent. The NDC now holds 136 seats, while the NPP’s count has dropped to 135.
Previously, both parties had 137 seats, but the NPP had enjoyed additional support from an independent member who often voted with them. However, that member’s seat was also declared vacant after he filed to run as an NPP candidate.
As President Nana Akufo-Addo steps down after completing his second and final four-year term, his vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia, will represent the NPP in the December election. He is set to face off against former president and NDC candidate John Dramani Mahama, who is seen as the frontrunner.