After winning the July 11 rerun election, Ewurabena Aubynn was sworn in by Parliament as the new MP for Ablekuma North. Her appointment strengthens the parliamentary majority of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), which now holds 184 seats in Parliament.
Members of the Minority Caucus staged a walkout just before the oath was given, adding controversy to the ceremony on Tuesday, July 22. The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, incited the protest by refusing to allow the Minority to speak before the swearing-in.
The Minority, led by Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP Frank Annoh-Dompreh, protested by leaving the chamber after the Speaker insisted that comments could only be made following the official swearing-in.
Speaker Bagbin gave the new Member of Parliament advice and administered the oath of office despite the interruption. He counselled Ms. Aubynn, the House’s youngest member at the moment, to value hard work, discipline, and humility.
“Being the youngest Member of Parliament, I urge you, please be punctual, be ever present in Parliament, be calm, listen more, learn from your colleagues, but please read everything, not only the Constitution,” he suggested.
She was reminded by the Speaker of her newfound obligation to her constituents.
Additionally, Mr. Bagbin issued a warning against letting political power eclipse the will of the people.
“You are now the hope of the people of the constituency. They are looking up to you to do something to improve their lives. It is a trust, and this, I pray, you don’t abuse. Four years is just a day. You will go back to them, and they will assess you this time based on your performance,” he mentioned.
“Don’t allow any person to change who you are. They voted for you, even though it was on a party ticket, but there are many members in the party in that constituency. They voted for you, so please commit yourself to them,” he added.
Following the annulment of the results from 19 polling places in the general elections of 2024 because of procedural violations and violent incidents, Ms. Aubynn won the rerun.
The opposition New Patriotic Party, or NPP, protested the rerun result and continues to question its fairness. Her swearing-in, however, represents a significant turning point for the NDC and solidifies the party’s position in the present Parliament.
