Accra: Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has cautioned against declaring the seat of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, vacant. According to him, parliamentary rules do not support declaring an MP's seat vacant when the individual is facing trial. Speaking in an interview with Citi FM on July 15, 2026, he warned that such a precedent could set a dangerous trend in the political arena, especially for MPs facing unsubstantiated allegations.
According to Ghana Web, Ayariga expressed concern that if an MP could be declared absent due to detention, it might lead to misuse of legal processes to remove MPs from their seats unjustly. 'The person is absent because he has been apprehended elsewhere and is being detained against his will. Even if he wanted to come to Parliament, he would not be able,' he stated.
Ayariga further elaborated that allowing such a precedent could result in MPs being arrested on trumped-up charges, leading to their seats being declared vacant after 15 days of absence. He suggested that Parliament is unlikely to declare Frimpong's seat vacant despite his prolonged absence from proceedings.
The issue arose after Frimpong was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on May 8 over allegations of money laundering and romance scam-related offences. His continued absence has sparked debate over whether Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the vacation of a parliamentary seat after 15 consecutive sittings without permission, should apply in his case.
Ayariga noted that when a legislator is prevented from attending sittings due to circumstances beyond their control, particularly arrest or prosecution, Parliament has generally allowed the legal process to run its course before making any decision. 'The practice of the House has always been that if a person is absent due to circumstances beyond their control, we wait. For example, if the person is arrested, incarcerated, and being prosecuted,' he explained.
The Majority Leader emphasised that an MP who is detained cannot be equated with one who deliberately absents themselves from parliamentary business.