Majority Leader James Agalga has ruled out declaring the parliamentary seat of Asante Akyem North vacant despite the continued detention of its Member of Parliament, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, in the Netherlands.

Mr Agalga says Parliament cannot remove the legislator from office because he has not been convicted of any offence and remains entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, November 4, the Majority Leader questioned what would happen if Parliament declared the seat vacant and the courts subsequently cleared the MP.

“No, we can’t do that. He’s not been convicted. If you declare the seat vacant and the courts clear him, what happens?” he asked.

He maintained that taking such action could violate the MP’s rights, stressing that the presumption of innocence must be respected.

According to Mr Agalga, there is agreement across the political divide in Parliament that Mr Frimpong’s rights must be protected while the legal process continues.

Agalga Plans to Visit Detained MP

The Majority Leader also disclosed that he intends to visit Mr Frimpong in the Netherlands to obtain firsthand information about his situation.

He said he had received an official briefing on the matter but did not know the specific details of the allegations against the MP.

Mr Agalga did not give a date for the proposed visit but said he hoped the court applications would produce a favourable outcome for his colleague.

MP Remains in Dutch Custody

Ohene Kwame Frimpong was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on May 10, 2026, after arriving from Ghana.

His detention followed an extradition request from the United States in connection with allegations involving romance scams and money laundering.

The MP has not been convicted of the alleged offences. Two attempts to secure his release on bail have reportedly failed.

Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has disclosed that the substantive extradition hearing in the Netherlands is scheduled for November 18, 2026.

He has also clarified that the MP remains in the Netherlands and has not been transferred to the United States.

What Does Ghana’s Constitution Say?

Article 97 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution outlines the circumstances under which a Member of Parliament may lose their seat.

These include prolonged absence from parliamentary sittings without the required permission and a reasonable explanation, resignation, certain criminal convictions and other specified circumstances.

Detention or an extradition request alone is not listed as an automatic ground for vacating a parliamentary seat.

The constitutional provisions also require disputes over whether a parliamentary seat has become vacant to be determined by the High Court.

For now, Mr Agalga’s position is that Mr Frimpong remains the legitimate MP for Asante Akyem North until the legal process establishes otherwise.

The development leaves the future of the MP’s case dependent on the ongoing proceedings in the Netherlands, with the November 18 extradition hearing expected to be an important next step.

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