The governing New Patriotic Party, NPP has defended its decision to invoke Article 97(1)(g) of the party’s constitution on the Fomena MP, Andrew Amoako Asiamah who has filed his nomination to contest as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate.
Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution states that “A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member”.
Andrew Amoako Asiamah lost in the party’s primaries held in June, but unhappy with the decision, filed as an independent candidate in the December polls.
The party has written to the Speaker asking that the seat be declared vacant till a replacement is found after the December polls.
Speaking to Citi News, Ashanti Regional Secretary of the party, Sam Payn said the party did what was right.
“It is clearly a constitutional matter. Both the national and party constitution gives clear terms. The party’s constitution spells out the terms for forfeiting membership of the party. The national constitution also talks about defection in parliament. Therefore, if someone defects in Parliament, there is the need to go for a bye-election especially when it is not less than three months to elections.”
“These are all constitutional matters, and we felt it is important to notify the House about the decision of the MP,” he added.
NPP disowns Fomena MP for running as an independent candidate
NPP wrote to the Speaker of Parliament informing him that the Member of Parliament for Fomena, Mr. Andrew Amoako Asiamah is no longer a member of the party.
Mr. Amoako Asiamah who was defeated in the party’s parliamentary primaries earlier in the year is contesting the upcoming elections as an independent candidate contrary to the NPP’s constitution.
The General Secretary of the party, John Boadu in the statement further noted that “Equally, by its constitutional injunction, any member of the party who supports or campaigns for an independent parliamentary candidate ahead of the forthcoming general elections also automatically forfeits his/her membership of the NPP”.
