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Parliamentary proceedings in Ghana were thrown into disarray this week after the Speaker suspended the session indefinitely following a chaotic confrontation between lawmakers from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The clash stemmed from a fierce dispute over which party currently holds the majority in the country’s finely balanced legislature.
Tensions began to escalate last week after it was revealed that four Members of Parliament had defected from their respective parties and would contest the upcoming general elections in December under new banners. This unexpected realignment prompted Speaker Alban Bagbin to declare their seats vacant, a move rooted in his interpretation of Ghana’s constitution, which he argued does not allow MPs to cross the floor and maintain their seats.
In the already closely contested parliament—where both the NPP and NDC held an equal number of seats, 137 each—the defection meant a shift in power dynamics. With the vacated seats yet to be filled, the NDC, which was previously the opposition party, suddenly found itself in the position of the majority, a designation that comes with significant influence over legislative affairs.
The Speaker’s decision was not without controversy, and the NPP quickly challenged the ruling in court, asking the Supreme Court to weigh in on whether Speaker Bagbin had correctly interpreted the constitution. In response, the court directed Bagbin to hold off on implementing his ruling until a final judgment could be made. The timeline for the court’s decision remains unclear, leaving the political landscape in limbo.
Tensions reached a boiling point on Tuesday when parliament reconvened for the first time since the court’s directive. Lawmakers from both the NPP and the NDC sought to claim seats designated for the majority party, resulting in a standoff that quickly devolved into chaos. In an attempt to avoid further confrontation, the NPP’s parliamentary leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, instructed his party’s MPs to walk out of the chamber. Seizing the moment, the NDC lawmakers broke into song, parading around the chamber in a celebratory display.
However, the spectacle came to a swift end when Speaker Bagbin suspended the session indefinitely, citing the absence of enough MPs to carry out parliamentary business. His decision left many crucial legislative matters hanging in the balance, most notably the approval of government funding and key laws that are essential to the functioning of the state. The suspension of proceedings could have serious consequences for the country’s governance, particularly with the general election looming just weeks away.
Ghana, known for its stable democratic tradition, has found itself in a political quagmire, with both presidential and parliamentary races expected to be closely contested in December. This political uncertainty is causing concern among citizens, particularly as the country grapples with a rising cost of living, a key issue that both the NPP and NDC have placed at the forefront of their campaigns.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who is representing the NPP in the presidential race, faces stiff competition from former president John Mahama, the NDC’s candidate.
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