By Ashiadey Dotse
Majority Leader James Agalga says Parliament will not declare the Asante Akyem North parliamentary seat vacant because the MP, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, has not been convicted of any offence.
Mr. Frimpong has been in detention in the Netherlands since May 10, 2026, following a request by the United States for his extradition over allegations of romance scams and money laundering.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Mr. Agalga said the MP remained innocent until proven guilty and could not be removed from Parliament based on his detention.
“No, we can’t do that. He’s not been convicted,” he said.
He questioned the decision to declare the seat vacant when the MP could eventually be cleared by the courts.
“If you declare the seat vacant and the courts clear him, what happens?” he asked.
Mr. Agalga stressed that the 1992 Constitution protects the rights of individuals and upholds the principle that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He added that members of Parliament on both sides of the House agreed that the principle must be respected.
The Majority Leader also disclosed that he intends to visit Mr Frimpong in the Netherlands to understand his situation better.
He said although he had received an official briefing on the matter, he was not familiar with the details of the allegations against the MP.
“I do not know the actual details. In fact, when the pressures of work ease a bit, I intend to pay him a visit,” he said.
Mr. Agalga expressed hope that the legal proceedings currently before the Dutch courts would end favourably for his colleague.
Mr. Frimpong, who won the Asante Akyem North seat as an independent candidate in the December 2024 parliamentary election, has twice failed in his attempts to secure bail.
His extradition hearing in the Netherlands is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2026, to determine whether he should be handed over to US authorities.
Under Article 97 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, an MP can lose their seat under specific circumstances, including resignation, expulsion for contempt of Parliament, certain criminal convictions and prolonged absence without permission.
However, arrest or detention alone is not listed as a ground for declaring a parliamentary seat vacant.
Until a court determines otherwise, Mr Agalga insists that Mr Frimpong remains the legitimate MP for Asante Akyem North.
