By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
A former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Agona West constituency in the Central region, Mrs Cynthia Mamle Morrison, has admonished members of the NPP to stop deceiving the Ghanaian public over her intent to contest the 2024 general election.
Her admonition comes after photos surfaced on social media platforms showing her with now Minority leader, Mr. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, and some members of the NPP MPs at Parliament’s Job 600 office complex on October 22, 2024.
These images sparked speculation that Mrs Mamle Morrison has reversed her decision to contest as an independent after losing the NPP parliamentary primaries to one Mr. Christopher Arthur.
The embattled MP for Agona West had earlier declared her intention to run as an independent candidate following her defeat in the primaries, which stirred controversy.
Her independent candidacy led to the then Minority Leader now majority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, invoking a constitutional provision, stating that MPs running as independent candidates must vacate their seats.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, based on these provisions, declared her seat, along with three others, vacant.
However, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on the Speaker’s decision after response to an application filed by the then Majority Leader and MP for Effutu constituency, Mr. Afenyo-Markin, seeking clarity on the status of the four MPs, including Mrs Morrison, who plan to contest the December 2024 elections either as independent candidates or under the NPP banner.
In response to the rumours, Morrison issued a statement on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, categorically denying any decision to withdraw her independent candidacy. She urged the public and her constituents to dismiss the “baseless claims” and reaffirmed her commitment to running independently in the upcoming elections.
Mrs. Morrison also called on her supporters to remain vigilant against misinformation, emphasising that her decision remains unchanged and she is determined to continue her campaign as an independent candidate.
“We wish to categorically state that these reports are false and do not reflect the Hon MP’s current position or intentions. Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, the sitting MP for Agona West, remains committed to serving the constituents and has made no such announcement retracting their decision to run independently.
The Hon. MP’s dedication to improving the lives of the people of Agona West and advocating for the constituency’s development continues to be the foremost priority. Any claims suggesting otherwise are attempts to distort the facts and misinform the public,” portions of her statement read.
Read below the unedited statement by Cynthia Morrison:
DEBUNKING FALSE MEDIA REPORTS: BY HON.. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR AGONA WEST HAS NOT RESCINDED THE DECISION TO CONTEST AS AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE
It has come to our attention that some media outlets have published misleading reports suggesting that the HONORABLE Member of Parliament for Agona West has rescinded their decision to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections. We wish to categorically state that these reports are false and do not reflect the Hon. MP’s current position or intentions.
Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, the sitting MP for Agona West, remains committed to serving the constituents and has made no such announcement retracting their decision to run independently. The Hon. MP’s dedication to improving the lives of the people of Agona West and advocating for the constituency’s development continues to be the foremost priority. Any claims suggesting otherwise are attempts to distort the facts and misinform the public.
We urge the media and the general public to disregard these baseless claims and rely only on official statements and verified sources for accurate information. Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison remains focused on championing the needs and aspirations of the people of Agona West, with the aim of providing sustainable development and inclusive governance.
As the election season draws closer, we encourage supporters and constituents to remain vigilant and not fall prey to propaganda or false news aimed at misleading the electorate.
Thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Hon. Member of Parliament
Agona West Constituency
