Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has rebuked against interpreting the Constitution in a way that would allow arrested Members of Parliament to lose their seats without thinking.
Ayariga alleged that imposing the constitutional provision on absenteeism without weighing the situations of the member’s absence could create an undesirable standard.
“If we allowed that precedent, what will happen is that an MP is arrested on the basis of trumped-up charges and then after 15 days, I will say his seat is vacant,” he commented on Citi FM Eyewitness.
He reprimanded that such procedure could create a situation where appointed representative is dismissed from the parliament because of an arrest, even before the assertions against the person are established.
The views were made to reply the conversation concerning the long terms absence of Asante Akyem North MP Kwame Ohene Frimpong.
Frimpong was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on May 8 over accusations of money laundering and romance scam-related crimes.
His absence has stirred up debate over Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which proves that a parliamentary seat may become vacant after an MP is absent from 15 consecutive meetings without permission.
Ayariga, however, pressed that Parliament should be careful not to establish a standard that could be depended upon in future cases involving MPs who can’t be present during meetings because they are being arrested against their wish.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Esther Odoom
