NPP brought a motion to Parliament to declare Adwoa Safo’s seat vacant — NDC MP reveals

Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the NDC Member of Parliament for South Dayi, has disclosed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has initiated a motion to declare the Dome Kwabenya seat, held by Sarah Adwoa Safo, vacant.

In an interview on Joy FM, Dafeamekpor stated that NPP MPs are pushing for the seat to be vacated under Article 97(1)(c) of the Ghanaian Constitution, which addresses parliamentary absenteeism.

According to Dafeamekpor, the NDC caucus in Parliament plans to act on the motion, using a report from the Privileges Committee, which has investigated Safo's prolonged absence.

He shared that, "There is a pending motion in Parliament again brought by the NPP for Adwoa Sarfo's seat to be declared vacant pursuant to Article 97(1)(c). As we speak, it's pending.

“When they brought that motion, they didn't know that the declaration by the Speaker would be unconstitutional.

"We will trigger that motion and the report is even ready. I have a copy, and it's prepared by the privileges committee, so we will trigger that motion and take a decision on that motion," he made this known in reaction to the Supreme Court's ruling overturning Speaker Bagbin's declaration of the four vacant seats.

The Privileges Committee report, which Dafeamekpor confirms, references Article 97(1)(c), which requires an MP to vacate their seat if they are absent without the Speaker’s written permission for 15 or more sittings and fail to provide a reasonable explanation.

The controversy surrounding Adwoa Safo’s seat began in April 2022, when she, along with two other MPs, was referred to the Privileges Committee for absenteeism.

This was based on Speaker Alban Bagbin's initial decision to address petitions related to their attendance, sparking debate on parliamentary conduct.