A lecturer at the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at KNUST, Dr. Emmanuel De-Graft says independent parliamentary candidates cannot maintain autonomy post-election.

Speaking to Samson Lardy Anyenini on Newsfile, Dr De-Graft stated that independent candidates are unable to avoid a political stance due to procedures in parliament.

"The structure of parliament prevents them from being independent. They cannot survive as independent parliamentary candidates because they work for a political party."

His comment follows a petition by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the Speaker of Parliament, Mike Oquaye to vacate Mr Andrew Asiamah, the MP for the Fomena constituency from his seat in parliament.

The MP for Fomena has been expelled by the party after his refusal to step down as an independent parliamentary candidate.

Reacting to the expulsion, Dr. De-Graft stated that political parties still await the return of former members who have gone independent in parliament.

He explained that the political parties also want the numbers in parliament hence they "get back these independent candidates after winning the election."

According to Dr De-Graft, this results in independent candidates veering to a political stance rather than ensuring the needs of the people are met.

He stated that the candidates are unable to put across the decisions of the people because they are a part of a caucus.

"Every issue in parliament has taken a political stance except those that benefit the parliamentarians."

"They try to do things that will help maintain themselves in parliament, not as an independent candidate but to join their former political parties" he stated.