Information circulating around suggests that Hon. Kwadjo Asante, the Member of Parliament for Suhum Constituency, has stepped down as an independent candidate for the December 2024 parliamentary election.
This decision comes amid a series of political developments, including the declaration of his seat as vacant by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
Hon. Asante was one of four MPs whose seats were declared vacant following decisions made in Parliament. This declaration has sparked serious concerns and debates from both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding which party holds the majority in the House. With parliamentary power hanging in the balance, this issue has become a focal point for political discourse in Ghana.
Earlier today, the NPP held a press conference where Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, a key member of the party, emphasized that the NPP remains a law-abiding party. He reiterated their commitment to using legal means to contest the Speaker’s declaration and to ensure that the NPP maintains its majority caucus in Parliament. The party expressed confidence in their strategy, reassuring their supporters that they would pursue all lawful avenues to address the matter.
On the other hand, the NDC, since the Speaker’s pronouncement, has firmly claimed that they now form the majority caucus in Parliament. This assertion was strongly demonstrated when the NDC MPs occupied the majority seats during today’s parliamentary proceedings, further intensifying the political tension between the two major parties. The ongoing battle over parliamentary control is expected to influence the dynamics in the House as the nation approaches the December elections.
Hon. Kwadjo Asante’s resignation as an independent candidate has restored one seat out of the three seats declared vacant by the Speaker. With two more NPP seats still vacant, the challenge of maintaining a majority has become a major concern for both party members and political activists.
Stay tuned to GH Educate for all the latest updates and developments on this evolving story.
