Speaker Bagbin declares KUMAWU seat vacant; directs EC to hold bye-election

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has declared the Kumawu seat vacant.

The decision to declare the seat vacant follows the death of Philip Atta Basoah.

Speaker Bagbin in a communication to the Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday, March 31, 2023, directed the electoral management body to hold a bye-election for a replacement of the deceased MP.

Article 112 (5) of the 1992 constitution states that “whenever a vacancy occurs in Parliament, the Clerk to Parliament shall notify the Electoral commission in writing within seven days after the vacancy occurred, and a by-election shall be held within thirty days after the vacancy occurred.”

The 53-year-old MP died on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where he had been on admission since Friday, March 24, 2023.

Sources say he was struck with a stroke in his sleep early on Friday.

After failing to answer several calls from his close family members and leadership of the Majority caucus who needed his presence for the secret vote on the ministerial nominees on Friday, his driver forcibly broke into his room only to find him in a state of unconsciousness.

He was rushed to the hospital in a coma, but as his health deteriorated, he was being prepared to be flown out for further care when he joined his maker.

Philip Basoah was one of three MPs marked absent during the crucial Friday vote.