The Deputy National Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says that the party will take action if the Amenfi Central MP, Peter Kwakye-Ackah proceeds to go independent.
In an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, October 16, Mustapha Gbande said the party’s constitution is emphatic that any member whose conduct in terms of loyalty commitment jeopardises the interest of the party, that person stands capable of being disqualified from contesting any election and suspended.
He added that “so to the extent that a sitting Member of Parliament has filed to contest as an independent candidate is a straightforward matter and that he stands to be suspended from the party. That will happen independent of what is happening in Parliament.”
However, he noted that the party is yet to take a decision.
“A decision would have to be taken, as it stands now, on one leg, constitutionally he stands to be expelled from the party, on another leg, what if tomorrow he decides to back off his decision? I mean he will then come back as a member but as it stands, the party hasn’t taken a decision yet and it doesn’t also mean that he hasn’t been disloyal. He will be expelled from the party if he proceeds.”
Mr Gbande stated that the party is following the happenings in Parliament on the matter and will act in due time after the Speaker makes his pronouncement.
His comments follow former Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu invoking Article 97 (1)(g) of the Constitution to vacate the seats of three Majority MPs and one NDC MP.
The provision in question states that an MP shall vacate their seat if they leave the party they were elected under or seek to remain in Parliament as an independent candidate.
However, Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has filed an injunction application at the Supreme Court in response to the Minority’s efforts to declare the seats of independent candidates vacant.
Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party says they will refrain from issuing a statement on the matter once it is in court.
According to the Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, the party will only comment on it after they have gotten a determination from the court.
Asked whether the party will willing to write to the Speaker to declare their seats vacant if the case goes against them, he said; “Matters of parliamentary issues, it ends at National Executive Committee (NEC), so this particular matter, if the NPP will have to take a decision, the NEC will convene and will have to take decision and communicated by the party’s general secretary.”
Source: myjoyonline.com
