Kpandai seat not vacant

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has stated that it is premature to disqualify the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kpandai, Matthew Nyindam, from participating successful parliamentary concern contempt the Tamale High Court’s annulment of the 2024 parliamentary predetermination results for the constituency.

He said the MP remained an progressive subordinate of the House and was close to enactment successful House proceedings.

Giving his directives connected a petition by the Majority Caucus to state the Kpandai spot vacant, Mr Bagbin explained that nether Court of Appeal rules, erstwhile a announcement of entreaty was filed, it automatically stays the High Court’s determination for 7 days.

He noted that since the ruling was delivered connected November 24, 2025, the enactment remains successful unit until December 1, 2025.

“During this period, the High Court ruling cannot signifier the ground for the Speaker to instruct the Clerk to notify the Electoral Commission that the Kpandai spot is vacant,” helium said.

Mr Bagbin explained further that if Mr Nyindam exercises his close of appeal, including done an exertion nether Rule 27(1) of C.I. 19, a further suspension whitethorn beryllium imposed connected the enforcement of the High Court judgement until the entreaty is resolved.

Context

At past Wednesday’s sitting, the Majority Caucus requested the Speaker to state the Kpandai spot vacant and the sitting MP, Matthew Nyindam, a persona non grata and to march him retired of the Chamber.

Matthew Nyindam  —  MP for Kpandai

But the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, prayed the Speaker to cull the Majority’s request.

The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who was presiding, told the House that helium had received notification from Mr Bagbin that the contented beryllium enactment connected clasp until helium himself resumed the chair.

Majority

The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, said based connected the ruling by the Tamale High Court, which had been duly served connected Parliament, Mr Nyindam indispensable beryllium barred from participating successful businesses successful the plenary.

The statement erupted erstwhile Mr Nyindam, whose predetermination had been annulled by the Tamale High Court connected November 24, this year, was owed to lend to the statement connected the 2026 fund connection connected the level past Wednesday, but the Majority objected to his publication connected the grounds that helium was nary longer a subordinate of the House. 

Don’t widen courtesies

He said Parliament, having been duly served, had a work nether the instrumentality to guarantee that the House nary longer extended courtesies to Mr Nyindam.

He recalled that erstwhile the NDC Assin South MP, James Gyakye Quayson, was ordered by the Cape Coast High Court to spell done a re-run of his election, Majority NPP members, past led by Mr Afenyo-Markin, spoke vociferously and maintained that Mr Quayson could not beryllium entertained successful the House.

Eventually, helium said Mr Quayson had to permission the House, saying that “this is simply a way that we person travelled”.

“Precedent has been laid and acceptable and truthful cipher tin impulse connected this House contiguous that Mr Nyindam indispensable person a dependable today.

“It would not hap since the orders of the High Court are directed astatine Parliament, arsenic good arsenic the Electoral Commission, to bid a re-run of the predetermination wrong 30 days,” helium said.

Reject request

Reacting, Mr Afenyo-Markin challenged Mr Dafeamekpor’s assertion that helium argued for the Speaker to march Mr Quayson retired of the Chamber erstwhile his lawsuit came up.

He said that, arsenic Leader of the House, helium had ne'er advocated that Mr Quayson, having mislaid a High Court case, should beryllium marched retired of the Chamber.

He explained that aft the Cape Coast High Court ruling, Mr Quayson filed an entreaty and a enactment of execution.

Based connected that, the House ne'er denied him his close of introduction and his close to beryllium heard, helium said.