Ghana’s Parliament Suspends Activities Indefinitely Over Political Dispute Ahead of Elections

Ghana’s parliament sessions has been adjourned indefinitely following a legal standoff  as a result of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s controversial decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.

The move, announced on Tuesday led to the suspension of  all legislative proceedings less than two months before the country’s general elections scheduled for December 7.

The adjournment followed a dispute between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which now holds a fragile majority after the defection of four lawmakers.

Bagbin cited parliamentary rules in his decision, stating that the chamber lacked the necessary quorum to continue legislative business.

“We don’t have at least half of all members of parliament present, in view of the current circumstances, the fact that there’s a question on the composition of Parliament… I will proceed to adjourn the House indefinitely,” He said during the session.

The four vacant seats include two NPP members, one from the NDC, and one independent lawmaker. The adjournment comes amid rising tensions over the constitutionality of MPs defecting from the parties under which they were elected, a key reason for the standoff.

The NPP, whose members staged a walkout from the parliamentary session before the adjournment, has challenged the legality of Bagbin’s decision in the Supreme Court.

NPP leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin defended the walkout, stating it was to avoid escalating tensions with the opposition and accused the NDC of attempting to provoke physical confrontation by occupying NPP seats in protest.

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“The NPP has always used the courts to correct wrongs,” Afenyo-Markin told reporters outside the chamber. “We will not allow the NDC to create chaos and disturb the peace of this country,” he said.

The dispute has raised concerns about the paralysing  government operations at a critical time for the country, such as stalling passage of bills, energy policies, and other governance issues.

With the adjournment, legislative processes has come to a standstill, leaving the fate of crucial government policies onhold.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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