The Privileges Committee of Parliament has directed the Clerk of Parliament to notify the Electoral Commission(EC) of Ghana that the Dome Kwabenya constituency seat is vacant after the committee declared the seat vacant.
The Chairman of the Privileges Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu made the disclosure while speaking to Emafa Appau on Joy News today, July 14, 2022.
According Joseph Osei Owusu, the committee arrived at the conclusion to declare the seat vacant after several failed attempt to get the member of Parliament for the constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo to explain why she absented herself for more than fifteen(15) parliamentary sittings.
He said the MPs failure to appear before the committee indicates she has automatically vacated her seat.
Joseph Osei Owusu said article 97 of the Constitution empowers the committee to declare the seat vacant if they[Committee] find a good reason to do so.
“Article 97 of Ghana’s Constitution indicates that a member of Parliament shall vacate his seat if he is absent for fifteen sittings without the permission of the Speaker and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges.”
Meanwhile the committee has unanimously forgiven Hon. Kennedy Agyapong and Hon. Henry Quartey, members of Parliament for Assin Central and Ayawaso Central respectively who also absented themselves Parliament for more than 15 consecutive sittings.
