Parliament Erupts in Chaos: Minority Walks Out Over Majority Leader's Comments on Akwatia MP's Death
Accra, Ghana – 17 July, 2025 – The Minority in Parliament staged a fiery walkout on Thursday, July 17, in protest against Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga's perceived insensitive comments regarding the vacant Akwatia parliamentary seat following the untimely demise of Ernest Yaw Kumi, the constituency's Member of Parliament.
The controversy erupted when Mr. Ayariga made an urgent statement on the floor, acknowledging the late MP's passing and seeking clarity from Speaker Alban Bagbin on when the seat would be formally declared vacant, nearly two weeks after the legislator's death.
Mr. Ayariga argued that the necessary confirmation of death had been received, and thus the process of notifying the Electoral Commission should commence without further delay.
However, Speaker Bagbin firmly maintained that parliamentary procedure demands formal written communication from the family of the deceased before any action could be taken to declare the seat vacant.
"In writing to the Electoral Commission about a vacancy caused by the death of an MP, the Clerk needs more than a visit to the family," Mr. Bagbin stated, setting the stage for a showdown between the Majority and Minority.
The atmosphere grew increasingly charged when Mr. Ayariga alleged that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had already begun circulating campaign posters of the late MP's widow, Mavis Kumi, as a potential candidate in an anticipated by-election. This revelation sparked outrage from the Minority, who viewed the comments as highly inappropriate and politically motivated, especially during a period of mourning.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed his displeasure over the remarks and the timing of the call to declare the seat vacant. "I did not make a ceremonial speech about the death of Ernest Kumi. Let's be sensitive about the situation and not create a wrong impression," he urged.
He then formally announced the Minority's decision to withdraw from the chamber, leading his colleagues out in a dramatic display of protest.
The Minority later held a press conference to register their protest, reiterating their call for decorum and sensitivity in handling the matter of the late MP's passing.
The late Ernest Yaw Kumi, who represented the Akwatia Constituency on the ticket of the NPP, died earlier this month, leaving a void in the constituency and sparking a heated debate over parliamentary procedures.
