Fomena: Sacked NPP MP Asiamah returns as independent MP

Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah is returning to Parliament as an Independent Member of Parliament (MP) days after his seat was declared vacant by the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye.

Mr Asiamah is the incumbent Fomena MP but contested his re-election as an independent candidate.

This followed a disagreement with the Fomena constituency New Patriotic Party (NPP) executives. He therefore did not contest the NPP primary to select a candidate but contested the general election as an independent candidate.

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He polled 12,805 votes to win Monday's Fomena Parliamentary Election.

Mr Asiamah defeated the NPP candidate Mr Philip Ofori-Asante who got 10,798 votes and the NDC candidate Christina Ama Ranson B. who had 2,608 votes. Another candidate Eric Appiagyei had 158 votes.

The total votes cast was 26,616 with 26,369 valid votes and 247 rejected ballots.

Forfeited membership

The General Secretary of the NPP, Mr John Boadu in a statement on October 13, 2020, said by going as an independent candidate, Mr Asiamah had forfeited his membership of the party per the Article 3(9) of the party’s constitution.

He explained that per the party’s constitution, any member of the party who supports or campaigns for an independent parliamentary candidate ahead of the forthcoming general elections also automatically forfeits his/her membership of the NPP.

Mr Boadu also said the party has written to the Speaker of Parliament to notify him about Mr Asiamah’s action and the fact that he is no longer a member of the NPP.

He cited Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which states that “A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member.”