Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Bagbin has indefinitely adjourned parliamentary proceedings after escalating tensions between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over which caucus holds the majority in the chamber. The adjournment, announced on Tuesday, October 22, followed a tumultuous day in Parliament that saw NPP MPs walk out in protest, leaving the NDC to occupy both sides of the House.
The decision to adjourn came after Bagbin briefly acknowledged receiving a communication from the Supreme Court, which directed him to stay his previous ruling declaring four parliamentary seats vacant. The affected seats include two from the NPP, one from the NDC, and one independent, which Bagbin had vacated on October 17, shifting the balance of power in the House. The Supreme Court’s intervention halted that ruling, but Bagbin provided few details on the court’s directive, leaving MPs uncertain about its implications.
Despite the ambiguity, the Speaker cited the lack of quorum—caused by the NPP walkout—as the primary reason for the adjournment. “We don’t have at least half of all the Members of Parliament present,” Bagbin said, justifying the indefinite suspension of proceedings.
Earlier in the day, NPP MPs left the chamber in protest over the contentious majority status, following disputes with the NDC. Their exit heightened the political standoff that has gripped Parliament since Bagbin’s initial ruling on the vacant seats. The NDC, claiming majority status after the declaration, remained in the chamber, but the lack of quorum prevented any official business from proceeding.
The adjournment has left Parliament in limbo, with both parties awaiting further clarity from the ongoing Supreme Court case, which will determine the final status of the vacant seats and the composition of the House moving forward.
Bagbin’s decision to indefinitely adjourn the House, coupled with the Supreme Court’s involvement, has added complexity to the parliamentary situation. The NPP accuses the Speaker of favoring the opposition in his rulings, while the NDC claims its majority position is valid. The outcome of the legal battle over the four seats could have significant implications for legislative activity and the broader political landscape as Ghana approaches the 2024 general elections.
Until a resolution is reached, Parliament remains in a state of uncertainty, with both the NPP and NDC awaiting the next move in this high-stakes political confrontation.
