Ofoase Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has accused parliamentary authorities of manipulating procedural rules to the detriment of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus, following a controversial letter circulating on social media that claims the Speaker has declared the Kpandai seat vacant.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM's Top Story, the former Information Minister said the NPP MPs initially received indications that “a lot of pressure” was being mounted on the Speaker to overturn his earlier ruling affirming Matthew Nyindam as the sitting MP for Kpandai despite a High Court annulment of the 2024 parliamentary election results.

According to him, when the caucus sought clarification from the Speaker's office, they were assured that no such reversal had taken place.

“Only for us to see this letter flying on social media purporting to be a letter informing the Electoral Commission that the Speaker has declared the seat vacant,” he lamented.

Oppong Nkrumah said the development convinced the caucus that “the rules of procedure are being used to perpetrate an injustice,” prompting the party and its MPs to unanimously decide to withdraw cooperation in the House.

“Prior to this, we have been cooperating on everything. Every little report that comes, every document we consider, we have supported. They have elected to put a spanner in their own works. It is very unfortunate, but we are left with no choice but to withdraw cooperation,” he stressed.

Responding to concerns that their withdrawal of cooperation might give the Majority Caucus an easier path to push through its agenda, Oppong Nkrumah disagreed.

“We are here in the chamber. We’ve withdrawn cooperation, and we want the Speaker to assure us he is sticking to his earlier ruling and has not succumbed to any behind-the-scenes pressure as part of efforts to give this government an overwhelming majority for constitutional amendments.”

He insisted that there is an “ongoing agenda” to manipulate parliamentary numbers and warned that Ghanaians are witnessing the scheme unfold in real time.

Background to the Kpandai Controversy

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin had earlier ruled that Matthew Nyindam remained an active Member of Parliament, despite a Tamale High Court decision nullifying the constituency’s 2024 election results.

According to the Speaker, under Court of Appeal rules, filing a notice of appeal automatically stays the High Court’s decision for seven days.

He explained that because the judgment was delivered on November 24, 2025, the stay remained valid until December 1, 2025.

However, on December 4, the Parliamentary Service wrote to the Electoral Commission confirming a vacancy in the Kpandai seat, ostensibly acting on the High Court order for a re-run. The letter, signed by Clerk to Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror and addressed to EC Chairperson Jean Mensa, cited the constitutional mandate under Article 112(5).

The notice formally triggers the administrative processes for a by-election.