The already tense impasse between the two sides has gotten worse as the Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has taken over seats normally held by the Majority.
The Minority’s action, spearheaded by its leadership, coincides with Parliament’s much-awaited resumption on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
As both parties fight for control of the Chamber amid a number of legal and political issues, this audacious move has increased political tension between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In response to Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s recent decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant on October 17, which effectively reduced the number of NPP members and tipped the balance of power in favour of the NDC, the Minority decided to take seats in the Majority.
The NPP kept 135 seats in the Chamber, while the NDC gained 136 members, effectively establishing a de facto majority. Two NPP seats, one NDC seat, and one independent MP seat are among the vacant seats.
However, the Majority quickly challenged the Speaker’s ruling, with Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin filing an appeal with the Supreme Court. On October 18, the Court intervened, staying the Speaker’s ruling and ordering that the affected MPs be allowed to continue their duties until a final decision is reached.
This has left the status of the Majority in Parliament in limbo, and the situation has escalated into a power struggle over control of the Chamber.
The majority regard the Minority’s choice to take up the Majority side as a symbolic declaration of their newfound numerical superiority. In a pre-session interview, Minority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza said that the Speaker’s decision and the existing makeup of Parliament supported their actions.
The majority chief whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, and some members of the minority leadership were placed in the front rows as the session got underway, while MPs from the NDC were observed coming into the seats customarily held by the NPP.
The move angered the NPP MPs, who denounced the action and charged the opposition with trying to seize their place.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the leader of the Majority Caucus, voiced his strong displeasure of the Minority’s activities. Annoh-Dompreh, who had previously denied claims that he was “smuggled” into Parliament, issued a warning, saying that the Majority would not tolerate control attempts by the Minority.
There has been a noticeable increase in security in and around Parliament in preparation for potential conflicts between the two factions. MPs and legislative staff had to go through a rigorous screening process before they could enter the Chamber, and bodyguards were not allowed.
Furthermore, parking around the Grand Arena was strictly regulated to avoid congestion, and entry to the public gallery was limited.
As Ghana prepares for the general elections in 2024, the political impasse in Parliament occurs at a crucial moment.
With both the NPP and NDC keen to win, the fight for parliamentary seats, the Supreme Court’s intervention, and the legal and constitutional consequences of the Speaker’s decision have produced a tense environment.
To end the current conflict, the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has asked both parties to exercise caution and adhere to the due process of law. The Centre issued a statement alerting all parties to the possibility of political unrest and urging them to put the country’s peace and stability first.
The political drama in Parliament is anticipated to escalate in the upcoming days as the legal dispute over the vacant seats proceeds, with both sides stoking what seems to be a protracted conflict.
It is unclear whether the Supreme Court’s ultimate ruling will bring about peace or widen the rift, but for the time being, the Minority’s brave decision to take over the Majority side has made it abundantly evident that the struggle for dominance in Parliament is far from finished.
Source: Citinewsroom