Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have once again taken their seats on the majority side of Parliament,the right-hand side of the Speaker heightening tensions with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs over which party currently holds the majority in the House.
The session, scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, marks the first meeting of Parliament following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to recall the House.
The session is expected to address critical legislative matters that have been stalled due to the ongoing dispute between the Majority and Minority caucuses.
NDC MPs arrived early and occupied the majority side of the chamber, which is traditionally reserved for the party with the most seats in Parliament.
The NPP MPs, who had not yet arrived at the time of the NDC’s seating, are expected to react strongly to the move, which could further exacerbate the already volatile standoff between the two parties.
This latest move by the NDC highlights the deepening impasse over the control of Parliament. Both sides are embroiled in a power struggle, with each party claiming the majority following the vacancies created by the deaths of several MPs and the subsequent by-elections.
The NPP maintains that it is the rightful holder of the majority, while the NDC asserts that it now controls the majority seats.
The ongoing dispute has raised concerns about the functioning of Parliament and the potential for further disruption, especially as both parties gear up for the upcoming December 7, 2024 elections.
The standoff has delayed the progress of several key legislative items, and it remains to be seen how the Speaker and Parliament will address the mounting tension.
As both parties prepare for an intense political battle, the dispute over the majority continues to dominate parliamentary proceedings.
