The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has sworn in the MP-elect for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn, at the precincts of the House.
The ceremony took place earlier today, July 22, after the Electoral Commission declared her the winner of the elections held on July 18 in the 19 outstanding polling stations in the constituency.
There was a brief stand-off between the Minority and the Speaker after a request by the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, to make a statement before the swearing-in was overruled by the Speaker. This decision led to a boycott of proceedings by the NPP.
The request was opposed by the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, on procedural grounds. The Speaker ruled in favor of the Majority, a decision that triggered the Minority’s walkout.
“Mr. Speaker, on the basis of your ruling on the matter before you, I am afraid the Minority is unable to take part in the process of swearing in the MP-elect,” Annoh-Dompreh is reported to have said.
Despite the boycott, the House proceeded with the formal induction of the MP-elect into Parliament.
The filling of the Ablekuma North seat brings to an end the lingering acrimony between the NPP and the NDC, following their dispute over the legitimate winner of the seat.
In the rerun, Ewurabena Aubynn secured a slim victory with 34,090 votes, edging past the NPP’s Akua Owusu Afriyie, who polled 33,881 votes.
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Story by Sika Togoh|univers.ug.edu.gh
