Asante Akim North remains without MP following Ohene Kwame Frimpong's arrest

The constituency of Asante Akim North in Ghana has been without parliamentary representation for 115 days following the arrest of Member of Parliament Ohene Kwame Frimpong, known as OK Frimpong. Frimpong was detained at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam on May 10, 2026, due to fraud allegations brought by the United States government.

His prolonged absence has created a constitutional ambiguity. While Article 47(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution mandates that every constituency be represented by one MP, the specific circumstances of detention or extradition proceedings are not explicitly listed as grounds for vacating a seat under Article 97. Although Article 97(c) allows for a seat to be vacated if an MP is absent without the Speaker’s written permission for fifteen sittings, the Clerk of Parliament has indicated that the House is providing Frimpong with ‘necessary assistance,’ suggesting his absence may currently be treated as authorized.

As of early September 2026, there has been no official statement from Parliament, the Electoral Commission, or the courts regarding when a by-election might be held or if the seat will be declared vacant.