Parliament Returns Amid Unresolved Dispute Over Vacant Seats
The power struggle between the Majority and Minority threatens to derail crucial legislative business as Parliament reconvenes
- Today’s sitting at the Accra International Conference Centre will address the ongoing standoff over vacant parliamentary seats
- Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four seats vacant sparked a legal challenge
- The Majority and Minority factions remain locked in a bitter power struggle
Ghana’s Parliament is set to reconvene today, Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s call for a session.
The sitting comes after weeks of intense gridlock caused by a standoff over four parliamentary seats Fomena, Amenfi Central, Suhum, and Agona West declared vacant by Speaker Bagbin. The decision sparked fierce opposition from the Majority caucus, which argued that the move weakened their parliamentary representation.
In response, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin filed a writ with the Supreme Court, challenging Bagbin’s declaration.
The Court issued a temporary stay on the Speaker’s decision, reinstating the contested seats, but tensions have continued to simmer, with the Minority caucus seizing the opportunity to occupy the Majority side of the chamber during a recent adjournment.
This dramatic turn of events raised concerns about the stability of Parliament and the broader balance of power within the legislature.
With critical national policies delayed and ongoing legislative work at a standstill, the Majority caucus has called for Parliament’s immediate recall to resume business.
Today’s session is expected to be a pivotal moment in breaking the deadlock, with both sides poised to debate the future direction of the legislature during one of its most contentious periods in recent memory.
