In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, October 22, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin announced the indefinite adjournment of proceedings due to unresolved issues regarding Parliament’s composition.
This decision significantly escalates the ongoing tensions between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who are embroiled in a heated dispute over which party holds the Majority in the House.
The controversy began with Speaker Bagbin’s declaration on October 17 that four parliamentary seats were vacant, a ruling that has intensified the rivalry between the two major parties.
The affected seats, which include constituencies from both the NPP and NDC, have become the center of a legal and political battle.
Following the Speaker’s ruling, the NPP filed a case with the Supreme Court, resulting in a stay of execution on Bagbin’s declaration.
Earlier in the day, tensions escalated when NPP MPs walked out of the Chamber in protest, leaving NDC members to occupy both sides of the House.
This tactical response aimed to avoid confrontation with the opposition party, as the debate over the Majority status remains unresolved.
The NPP’s exit, along with the absence of key MPs, created a lack of quorum essential for parliamentary proceedings to continue.
This procedural failure provided Speaker Bagbin with the justification to adjourn the session indefinitely.
In his announcement, Bagbin acknowledged receiving communication from the Supreme Court, which has stayed his earlier ruling on the vacant seats.
However, he did not elaborate on the details of that communication.
“In view of the current circumstance, the fact that there is a question on the composition and composition of parliament and having regards to the public interest and the exigency of the state of affairs in parliament, I will proceed to, in accordance with Standing Orders 59, adjourned the house indefinitely; that is sine die,” he stated.
