Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has adjourned parliamentary proceedings indefinitely due to a lack of quorum. This decision was made on Tuesday, October 22, following a contentious day in the Chamber, marked by disputes between Members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the composition of the Majority. Despite the adjournment, Speaker Bagbin briefly mentioned that he had received a communication from the Supreme Court, although he did not go into detail about its contents.
The communication is likely related to the recent legal tussle over the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant, a ruling that has been stayed by the Supreme Court.
Earlier in the day, the NPP MPs vacated the Chamber, leaving the NDC to occupy both sides of the House. The lack of quorum—an essential number of MPs required to carry out parliamentary business—was the official reason cited for the adjournment, though the day’s political tension contributed to the disruption.
Bagbin’s decision not to fully address the Supreme Court’s communication leaves the issue of the vacant seats unresolved for now, adding to the uncertainty surrounding parliamentary proceedings. With Parliament adjourned indefinitely, the next steps remain unclear as both parties await further direction.
By: Kobina Welsing
