Chairman of Parliament’s Privileges Committee, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu has said that the Clerk of Parliament is required to inform the Electoral Commission that the Dome Kwabenya constituency seat is vacant.
In an interview with Accra-based JoyNews today, Thursday, July 14, 2022, Mr. Osei-Owusu said “in accordance with the law, it is for the Clerk to inform the Electoral Commission that a vacancy has occurred, that is what the constitution says, that is what our report reflects.”
According to him, it is the conclusion reached by the committee after it held hearings on legislators who had absented themselves from parliament for more than 15 consecutive sittings.
Article 97 of Ghana’s Constitution states that a member of Parliament must vacate his seat if he is absent for fifteen sittings without the permission of the Speaker and is unable to provide a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges.
Mr. Osei-Owusu noted that the committee did everything possible to have Ms. Safo justify her absence, however, her failure to take up the opportunity means her seat is automatically vacant.
Meanwhile, the Committee voted unanimously to ‘pardon’ Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong and Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey, who both absented themselves for more than 15 consecutive sittings of Parliament last year.
