Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has indicated that Parliament is not expected to declare the seat of the Member of Parliament for Asante Akyem North, Kwame Ohene Frimpong, vacant despite his prolonged absence from parliamentary proceedings.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Ayariga explained that Parliament has traditionally taken into account the circumstances surrounding an MP’s absence before deciding whether to apply the constitutional provision.

According to him, where a lawmaker is unable to attend sittings due to circumstances beyond their control, especially when they are under arrest or facing prosecution, Parliament has generally allowed the judicial process to run its course before considering any action.

“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 Majority Leader stressed that an MP who is being detained against their will should not be treated the same as one who deliberately chooses to stay away from parliamentary business.

“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 explained.

Ayariga also warned against interpreting the constitutional provision solely on the basis of the number of sittings missed, arguing that such an approach could be open to abuse.

He cautioned that declaring an MP’s seat vacant simply because they had been detained could set a dangerous precedent, particularly in cases where politically motivated or unfounded charges are brought against legislators.

“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.

Ohene Kwame Frimpong was dramatically arrested by Dutch security officials at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam shortly after a KLM flight from Accra landed in the Netherlands over allegations of romance scams and money laundering.

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.

Moments after the aircraft touched down at Gate F3 and passengers prepared to disembark, the pilot announced that all passengers should remain seated for what was described as a security check.

According to reports, 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 alongside another senior government official travelling on the same flight.

The 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.

He was subsequently taken into detention.