Parliament Reconvenes Today Amid Majority-Minority Standoff Over Vacant Seats

Parliament is set to reconvene today, Thursday, November 7, 2024, following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s directive for a session at 10:00 AM at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre.

This sitting is expected to address pressing issues that have remained unresolved due to a prolonged standoff within the House.

 

 

 

 

The impasse began after Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats — Fomena, Amenfi Central, Suhum, and Agona West — vacant, a move that sparked intense opposition from the Majority caucus, who argued it undermined their representation in Parliament.

Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin subsequently filed a writ with the Supreme Court, challenging the Speaker’s authority in declaring these seats vacant.

The Supreme Court intervened, issuing a stay on Bagbin’s decision, temporarily reinstating the contested seats and escalating tensions between the Majority and Minority caucuses.

The discord intensified when the Minority caucus, capitalizing on the declared vacancies, took over the Majority side of the chamber, prompting Speaker Bagbin to adjourn the House.

This unusual turn of events raised questions about Parliament’s stability and the balance of power within the legislative body.

In response, the Majority caucus pushed for a recall of Parliament, citing an urgent need to resume legislative business and address pressing policies and programmes that have been on hold. They emphasized that continued delays in parliamentary proceedings could hinder crucial national initiatives.

Today’s session is anticipated to be a pivotal moment in addressing the deadlock, with both sides poised to debate the direction of Ghana’s legislature amid one of the most contentious periods in recent parliamentary history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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