By Seli Baisie & Jeremiah Nutsugah
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, adjourned parliamentary proceedings indefinitely on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, due to a lack of quorum to make decisions.
During the brief session, Mr. Bagbin explained that while the House had enough members present to conduct regular business, the numbers fell short of the constitutional requirement needed to pass resolutions or make decisions.
Citing Article 102 of the Constitution, he noted that a quorum for conducting business should be one-third of all Members of Parliament (MPs). However, the House did not meet the requirement under Article 104 to make binding decisions, which mandates that at least half of the MPs must be present and voting.
Bagbin quoted Article 104 (1), which states, “matters in Parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority of members present and voting, with at least half of all the Members of Parliament present.”
Acknowledging the current composition and state of affairs in Parliament, the Speaker adjourned the session, stressing that it was necessary given the public interest and the present parliamentary conditions.
However, the details of the communication remain unclear, leaving MPs and observers in the dark about the implications of the Court’s directive.
The four parliamentary seats in question – two from the NPP, one from the NDC, and one independent – were declared vacant by Bagbin on October 17. The Supreme Court’s intervention has effectively put a hold on that ruling, adding another layer of complexity to the already fraught political situation.
Earlier in the session, NPP MPs staged a dramatic exit from the Chamber, leaving the NDC to occupy both sides of the House.
This move was in response to escalating tensions and disagreements over the Majority designation, which has been a contentious issue since Thursday, October 17.
The ongoing legal battle surrounding the four parliamentary seats has significant implications for Ghana’s political landscape.
With the Supreme Court’s intervention, the situation remains fluid and uncertain.
As the country waits for the outcome, one thing is clear – the future of Ghana’s Parliament hangs in the balance.