NDC Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, recently raised concerns over an alleged move by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to have the parliamentary seat of Sarah Adwoa Safo, the MP for Dome Kwabenya, declared vacant.
Speaking during an interview on Joy FM, Dafeamekpor claimed that the NPP MPs are pushing for Safo’s seat to be vacated based on Article 97(1)(c) of Ghana’s Constitution, which mandates that an MP’s seat be declared vacant if they are absent from Parliament without valid reasons for a period defined by the constitution.
This issue has resurfaced following the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn Speaker Alban Bagbin’s previous declaration of four other parliamentary seats as vacant.
The court’s ruling, which found the Speaker’s declaration unconstitutional, has now prompted new legal interpretations and debates around MP absences and the grounds for declaring seats vacant.
According to Dafeamekpor, the Privileges Committee has already prepared a report regarding Safo’s seat, which he claims provides grounds to trigger a motion on this matter in Parliament.
The NDC caucus, he confirmed, is prepared to initiate this motion, signaling the party’s intent to actively address this issue.
This situation has drawn heightened public and political scrutiny, as Adwoa Safo has faced ongoing criticism for her prolonged absence from parliamentary duties.
The MP’s repeated absences, reportedly due to personal and family obligations, have raised questions about the expectations and requirements of elected officials.
NPP members supporting the move argue that her absence has compromised representation for the constituents of Dome Kwabenya and has disrupted legislative processes.
Meanwhile, those on Safo’s side contend that her absence should be handled with sensitivity and that legitimate concerns or challenges may have contributed to her lack of attendance.
The NPP’s motion on this matter may have significant implications for parliamentary balance, especially as Ghana’s current Parliament remains highly polarized with almost evenly split seats between the NPP and the NDC.
Given the closely contested nature of seats in Parliament, any vacancy or forced removal could tilt the power dynamics and influence legislative decision-making.
The case of Adwoa Safo’s potential vacated seat also underscores the broader questions around Ghana’s legal framework governing parliamentary conduct.
Specifically, Article 97(1)(c) provides a guideline, yet its implementation relies on interpretations that can lead to varying outcomes depending on political leanings and judicial rulings.
Source: Ghana Web
