Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, has postponed the Parliamentary session indefinitely due to a dispute over vacant seats, putting some important parliamentary business on hold.
This judgment follows a disagreement in which National Democratic Congress (NDC) legislators occupied the majority side of the aisle after New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs left.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament had walked out earlier owing to a disagreement with the opposition, which had seized their seats after claiming to be the majority.
Here are six major businesses affected by the adjournment:
- Budget approval: The passage of the 2025 budget is critical among outstanding government businesses.
- The revocation of L.I. on mining in forest reserves was a significant condition imposed by organized labor as part of its agreement to call off its scheduled strike.
- Approval for the $250 million Ghana Financial Stability Fund.
- Approval for $250 million Ghana Energy Sector Loan
- Approval of $350 million in tax waivers
- Approval of two Supreme Court nominees.
Alban Bagbin informed the House that they had enough numbers to conduct business but not enough to make decisions.
After examining Madina MP Francis Xavier-Sosu’s request for a correction of the record from Thursday, the Speaker publicly announced his position moving forward.
He also stated that he has had a court process issued on him as Speaker regarding the pronouncement on four MPs.
“We do not have at least half of all parliamentarians present. Consequently, in view of the current circumstances, the fact that there is a question on the composition and constitution of Parliament, and having regard to the public interest and the exigencies of the state of affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to adjourn the House indefinitely in accordance with Standing Orders 59.”
