Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader in Parliament, has warned against declaring the seat of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, vacant.
According to Mahama Ayariga, declaring the seat of the detained Asante Akyem North MP vacant sets a dangerous precedent.
He disclosed that parliamentary rules do not support declaring an MP’s seat vacant when the individual is facing trial.
The Majority leader argued that an MP who is being detained cannot be equated with one who deliberately absents themselves from parliamentary business.
Speaking in an interview with Citi FM on July 16, 2026, Mahama Ayariga stated, “The practice of the House has always been that if a person is absent due to circumstances beyond the control of that person, we wait. Such as, the person is arrested and incarcerated and being prosecuted,” he said.
“The person is absent because he has been apprehended elsewhere and is being detained against his will and even if he wanted to come to Parliament, he would not be able to come,” he added.
“If we allowed that precedent, what will happen is that an MP is arrested on the basis of trumped-up charges and then after 15 days, I will say his seat is vacant,” he stated.
The detained Asante Akyem North MP’s continued absence has sparked debate over whether Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the vacation of a parliamentary seat after 15 consecutive sittings without permission, should apply in his case.
Meanwhile, the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has disclosed that the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, is under investigation over alleged fraud and money laundering offences.
He further questioned the prolonged detention of Ohene Kwame Frimpong following his arrest.
According to the Majority Chief Whip, they will wait for the Asante Akyem North bail outcome before deciding on their next course of action.
Speaking on JoyNews on May 26, 2026, the South Dayi MP stated, “Now, what I know is that they are saying he’s under investigation. If I remember from what the lawyer told me, for fraud and money laundering, he is under investigation”.
“Do you detain somebody for this long for being under investigation? That is why we are saying that we should allow the bail application to be gone into and then we’ll see how it goes,” he added.
Sources familiar with the arrest of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, have shared details concerning his arrest at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.
Reports suggest that the Asante Akyem North MP was dramatically arrested by Dutch security officials at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam shortly after a KLM flight from Accra landed in the Netherlands.
According to CitiNewsroom, “the lawmaker departed Kotoka International Airport in Accra on Saturday, May 9, aboard KLM Flight 590. The flight reportedly left Ghana through Gate C7 at about 10:10 p.m. and arrived at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam at approximately 4:36 GMT on Sunday”.
The information gathered from sources detailed that the incident happened moments after the aircraft touched down at Gate F3 when passengers were prepared to disembark; the pilot announced that all passengers should remain seated for what was described as a security check.
Sources revealed that a team of Dutch security officials subsequently boarded the aircraft and proceeded directly to the Business Class section where the Asante Akyem North MP was seated with another senior government official travelling on the same flight.
The Dutch security officials reportedly identified the MP, read him his rights, and placed him in handcuffs before escorting him off the aircraft into a waiting security van.
Meanwhile, Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has for the first time broken his silence following the arrest of the Asante Akyem North MP in the Netherlands.
On May 21, 2026, addressing parliament, Alban Bagbin disclosed that efforts are ongoing through diplomatic channels to ensure justice is served.
He further appealed to the MP’s family, constituents and the public to keep cool while parliament works with the government to ensure the MP is treated with dignity and respect under international law.
Alban Bagbin further reminded members of parliament that no one is above the law.
Speaking to members of Parliament, Alban Bagbin stated, “Parliament is working with governments to ensure justice is done in this matter. I will, in due course, keep the House updated with developments in the matter”.
“So please, keep your cool and leave those who are involved. I’m happy that voluminous information has been given to you as to the steps that have been taken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with our mission in Holland,” he added.
Speaker Bagbin added, “Honourable members, it is very important for us to always remind ourselves that we are here as servants of the people, and it is important to keep uppermost in our minds that the power and authority we exercise as Members of Parliament are delegated”.
“The guardians have made it clear in the Constitution that nobody, and I repeat, nobody, is above the law. Not even the Ghanaians that we represent. They are not above the law,” he said.
@ghnow_ Heated moment! Afenyo-Markin and Hon. Rockson Dafeamekpor again clash in parliament over the EOCO arrest of Dennis Miracle Aboagye #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ A slow loaded cargo truck tried to overtake another loaded cargo truck and almost crashed into a tanker. #GHNow #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
