Ayariga Backs Clerk in Kpandai Dispute
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has strongly defended the Clerk of Parliament’s decision to declare the Kpandai seat vacant, arguing the action was fully in compliance with the law. He contends the Minority’s attempts to obstruct parliamentary proceedings inadvertently reinforced the legal basis for the declaration.
Speaking on Joy Super Morning Show on Wednesday, Ayariga explained that once a High Court orders a rerun of an election, the Clerk is obligated to inform the Electoral Commission (EC) unless a court order specifically stays that judgment.
“What I know is that, as the law is, the Clerk acted properly within the law. He cannot be faulted,” Ayariga stated. “Once you don’t have an order of the court saying that its judgment should be stayed, the time keeps running. And as we speak, the Clerk, having communicated to the Electoral Commission, the 30 days have started running.”
The Bawku Central MP further suggested that the uproar in Parliament on Tuesday could have been avoided had the Minority allowed for a comprehensive discussion on the matter. He accused them of disrupting the proceedings and hindering a potential ruling by the Speaker.
“What the Speaker actually meant was that we should have allowed a discussion in the chamber in an atmosphere that would enable him to give a ruling. They prevented that from happening,” he said, adding that “they are the ones who have suffered the legal consequences.”
The situation escalated on Tuesday night when Minority MPs called for an adjournment following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to postpone his ruling on the Kpandai seat. Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh insisted that all government business be halted until the issue was resolved.
However, a voice vote led by Speaker Bagbin allowed proceedings to continue, prompting chants and disruptions from the Minority MPs. This followed a December 4, 2025, letter from the Clerk to Parliament formally notifying the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa, about the Kpandai Constituency vacancy.
The notification stemmed from a High Court order mandating a rerun of the 2024 parliamentary election in the area. Ayariga emphasized that the Majority has the right to defend its candidate, just as the Minority would in a similar situation.
“They must be seen fighting for their own. They have forgotten that the person Nyindam defeated is also an NDC person, so we also have a stake in fighting for our own,” he stated. “If you feel you should fight for your own, you think we shouldn’t be fighting for ours? How unreasonable could you be especially when the law is on our side?”
Ayariga warned that stifling open debate on legal matters within Parliament poses a threat to Ghana’s democratic principles. “If we start allowing that, then we’ll be destroying the democracy,” he cautioned.
The EC is now preparing to issue directives regarding the upcoming rerun election in the Kpandai Constituency.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
