The Minority in Parliament staged a walkout on Thursday, July 17, in protest against what they described as insensitive remarks by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga regarding the declaration of the Akwatia parliamentary seat vacant following the death of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the Member of Parliament for the area.
Tensions flared when Mr Ayariga, during parliamentary proceedings, made an urgent statement acknowledging the late MP’s passing and sought clarity from the Speaker on when the seat would be formally declared vacant, nearly two weeks after the legislator’s death.
Referring to a visit by parliamentary leadership to the bereaved family, the Majority Leader argued that the necessary confirmation of death had been received and thus the process of notifying the Electoral Commission should commence.
“Whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk of Parliament shall notify the Electoral Commission in writing within seven days after becoming aware. Mr Speaker, if Ghanaians ask the Clerk if he is aware or not, can he say he is not aware?
“After being informed by the Leader of the Caucus through a statement in this House, the Clerk himself followed up at his house and met the family members of the deceased, and they confirmed to him that the deceased had passed. And this was on national television,” Mr Ayariga said.
However, Speaker Alban Bagbin maintained that parliamentary procedure demands formal written communication from the family of the deceased before any action could be taken to declare the seat vacant.
“In writing to the Electoral Commission about a vacancy caused by the death of an MP, the Clerk needs more than a visit to the family,” Mr Bagbin stated.
The atmosphere grew more charged when Mr Ayariga alleged that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had already begun circulating campaign posters of the late MP’s widow, Mavis Kumi, as a potential candidate in an anticipated by-election.
This prompted outrage from the Minority who viewed the comments as highly inappropriate and politically motivated, especially during a period of mourning.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed his displeasure over the remarks and the timing of the call to declare the seat vacant.
“I did not make a ceremonial speech about the death of Ernest Kumi. Let’s be sensitive about the situation and not create a wrong impression,” he urged.
He then formally announced the Minority’s decision to withdraw from the chamber. “Mr Speaker, we are staying away from the proceedings of the House,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said before leading his colleagues out.
The Minority later held a press conference to register their protest, reiterating their call for decorum and sensitivity in handling the matter of the late MP’s passing.
The late Ernest Yaw Kumi, who represented the Akwatia Constituency on the ticket of the NPP, died earlier this month.
