Group files writ to declare seats of three independent MPs vacant

The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) has filed a writ at a High Court in Accra seeking a declaration that the seats of three independent Members of Parliament who contested primaries organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) be declared vacant since they crossed carpet to join the party.

FGJ said it had filed suit number AP12/2012 seeking the declaration against the Bekwai MP, Mr Joe Osei Wusu, Bosome Freho MP, Mr Edward Nana Yaw Ofori Kuragu, Nkawkaw MP, Mr Seth Adjei Baah.

The fourth defendant is NPP.

The statement signed by Dr. Clement Apaak, Convener, FGJ and Mr Robert Afulimi, Greater Accra Coordinator of FGJ, said the Forum was seeking a declaration that the three seats became vacant when the NPP vetted and approved the MPs to file nominations to contest the seats.

FGJ said it was seeking a declaration that the NPP failed and/or neglected to respect and defend its Constitution as amended and the 1992 Constitution of Ghana when it failed and/or neglected to demand of the three independent Members of Parliament, who wanted to contest the December 2012 parliamentary elections on its ticket, to resign or vacate their seats in Parliament as required by law as a condition precedent to their taking part in the constituency primaries.

It is seeking an order requiring the three MPs to refund any salaries and allowances, among other things, paid to them after they had effectively ceased being MPs from the day they should be deemed to have effectively vacated their seats.

FGJ said it was also seeking a declaration that the NPP contravened its Constitution as amended when it organized the Bekwai, Besome-Freho and Nkawkaw constituency primaries about three months to the December 2012 Parliamentary elections.

The statement said FGJ’s current action against the MPs and the NPP was also necessitated by the inability of the Speaker of Parliament to act “as well as the disappointing silence, which has greeted this gross illegality and a breach of the constitution”.

“We fail to understand why flag-bearers, ex-presidents, legal luminaries, religious leaders, workers groups and leaders, and other civil society organisations have been quiet in the face of such brazing violation of the supreme law of the land by law makers,” the statement said.

Source: GNA