Asante Akim North constituency without parliamentary representation for 115 days following MP's arrest

The arrest was made based on fraud allegations by the United States government. This situation raises questions about the constituency's representation in Ghana's Parliament, as mandated by Article 471 of the 1992 Constitution, which states each constituency should have one Member of Parliament. The 1992 Constitution outlines conditions for a parliamentary seat to become vacant, including resignation, death, or disqualifying circumstances, but detention or extradition proceedings are not explicitly listed.

Article 97 details grounds for vacating a seat, such as dissolution of Parliament, election as Speaker, unapproved absence for fifteen sittings, expulsion for contempt, disqualification under Article 94, resignation, or changing political parties. The Standing Orders of Parliament state that only the Speaker can declare a seat vacant. Even after a declaration, the Clerk of Parliament must notify the Electoral Commission, which then holds a by-election within a stipulated period.

Article 112 mandates the Clerk to notify the Electoral Commission within seven days of a vacancy, with a by-election to follow within thirty days, or sixty days if due to death. The current situation presents a constitutional gap, as Frimpong has not resigned nor b