The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr Rasheed Draman, has urged Parliament to be careful before taking any decision to declare the Asante Akyem North parliamentary seat vacant.
Dr Draman believes Parliament should respect the principles of natural justice and allow the legal process involving the Member of Parliament (MP), Kwame Ohene Frimpong, to take its course.
The Independent MP is currently being held in the Netherlands over allegations linked to money laundering and romance scam-related offences. However, Dr Draman stressed that the MP has not yet been convicted by a court.
For this reason, he believes Parliament should not treat him as a convicted person or take steps that could affect his position as an elected representative before the court has reached a decision on his case.
Dr Draman Calls for Respect for Natural Justice
Speaking on the issue, Dr Draman said the basic principles of natural justice require that a person accused of a crime should be given the opportunity to appear before a court and defend themselves.
He explained that being accused of an offence does not automatically mean that a person is guilty.
“Under the rules of natural justice, somebody has been accused, he hasn’t had his day in court yet, he hasn’t been convicted yet. Once he becomes a convict, then he’s completely disqualified to even come near Parliament. But we are not there yet,” he indicated.
According to Dr Draman, the situation could be different if the MP is eventually found guilty and convicted by a court.
However, until such a decision is made, he believes Kwame Ohene Frimpong should continue to benefit from the principle that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Parliament Asked to Wait for Court Process
Dr Draman has therefore called on Parliament to wait for the judicial process in the Netherlands to be completed before making a final decision about the Asante Akyem North seat.
He said Parliament should not rush to declare the seat vacant simply because the MP is currently in detention outside Ghana.
According to a report by citinewsroom.com on July 29, 2026, Dr Draman also pointed out that Ghana’s legal framework does not clearly explain how long a Member of Parliament can remain away from Parliament under circumstances such as the one involving Kwame Ohene Frimpong.
This, he believes, creates a difficult situation that requires Parliament to carefully examine the law before taking any action.
MP Remains in Detention in the Netherlands
Kwame Ohene Frimpong was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on May 8, 2026.
He has remained in detention in the Netherlands while legal proceedings connected to the allegations continue.
The case has attracted attention in Ghana because of the MP’s position as the elected representative of the people of Asante Akyem North.
The situation has also raised questions about what should happen to a parliamentary seat when an MP is unable to attend Parliament because of legal proceedings in another country.
Dr Draman’s position is that Parliament should first consider the legal rights of the MP and the principles of natural justice before making any decision that could affect his elected position.
Ghana Mission Provides Consular Support
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed that Ghana’s mission in The Hague is providing consular assistance to the detained MP.
Consular assistance is support provided by a country’s diplomatic representatives to its citizens who may be facing difficulties or legal problems in another country.
The confirmation means that Ghana’s diplomatic mission is involved in providing the necessary support to Kwame Ohene Frimpong as his legal case continues.
However, the assistance from Ghana’s mission does not determine the outcome of the legal proceedings. The MP will still have to go through the legal process in the Netherlands.
Debate Over the Future of the Parliamentary Seat
The issue of whether the Asante Akyem North parliamentary seat should be declared vacant is expected to remain a matter of discussion as the case develops.
On one side, there are concerns about the MP’s inability to perform his duties in Parliament while he remains in detention outside the country.
On the other side, Dr Draman believes that Parliament must not act as though the MP has already been found guilty when no conviction has yet been recorded against him.
His comments have therefore brought attention to the need for Parliament to carefully balance its constitutional responsibilities with the rights of an elected MP who is facing legal proceedings.
For now, Kwame Ohene Frimpong remains an accused person and has not been convicted of the allegations against him.
Dr Draman’s call is for Parliament to allow the judicial process to take its course before making any decision on the future of the Asante Akyem North parliamentary seat.
