The Member of Parliament for Adaklu, Kwame Agbodza has indicated that Parliament can continue business of the House after the December 7th general elections.

According to him, Parliamentarians are accounting for their stewardship at the moment adding that there is enough time to attend to pending issues before the year ends.

“There is no business in parliament that cannot be done on the 9th of December, the elections are just one day. I think it is a Saturday, Tuesday is the 9th, we can go back and do whatever business it is,” he said in an interview with Myjoyonline.com.

He washed off claims that public servants may not be able to receive their salaries as parliament is on recess, clarifying that “we have already done the appropriation for salaries for the year and it expires on December 31st, 2024.”

Background

Mr. Agbodza’s comment comes on the back of controversies erupting in parliament following a ruling by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin which rendered the seats of four members vacant. Three out of the four MPs decided to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections as independent candidates.

The National Democratic Congrees (NDC) thereafter assumed the Majority side sending Parliament into turmoil, as the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) side lost 3 members, with the NDC losing a member.

The affected members were the NDC MP for Amenfi Central, Peter Yaw Kwakye Ackah, the NPP MP for Suhum in the Eastern Region, Kojo Asante, and the NPP MP for Agona West, Cynthia Morrison.

Andrew Amoakoh Asiamah, who won the Fomena seat as an independent candidate, joined the NPP’s majority side and later filed to contest the 2024 election on the ticket of the NPP was also affected.

The Supreme Court, however, halted the Speaker’s decision and subsequently overturned it in a 5-2 majority decision, upholding the suit filed by Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The Court indicated that an MP is considered to have vacated their seat only if they change their political affiliation while remaining in Parliament under a new party identity.