Members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament staged a walkout on Thursday, July 17, 2025, over remarks made by Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, regarding the late Akwatia MP, Ernest Kumi.
The Majority Leader inquired from Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin when the deceased MP’s seat would be officially declared vacant.
“Whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk of Parliament shall notify the Electoral Commission in writing within seven days after becoming aware. Mr. Speaker, if Ghanaians ask the Clerk if they are aware or not, can he say he is not aware?
“After being informed by the Leader of the Caucus through a statement in this House, the Clerk himself followed up at his house and met the family members of the deceased, and they confirmed to him that the MP had passed. And this was on national television,” Mr. Ayariga stated.
Responding to the remarks, Speaker Bagbin said it was impossible to declare the seat vacant let alone notify the Electoral Commission until the House received a formal communique from the bereaved family.
This sparked debate between members of both caucuses, prompting Mr. Ayariga to accuse the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of prematurely campaigning with flyers featuring Mavis Kumi, the spouse of the late MP.
He added that the widow’s appearance on campaign flyers indicated her intention to contest the pending by-election.
In protest, the Minority staged a walkout from the Chamber, describing the Majority Leader’s comments as “inappropriate and insensitive.”
“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.
”Mr Speaker, we are staying away from the proceedings of the House,” Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin aid.
They further accused the Majority of politicising the situation prematurely during a time of grief and mourning.
