Ghana’s Parliament is bracing for a showdown on Tuesday, October 22, as Members of Parliament (MPs) from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) gear up to challenge the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over which party holds the majority in the House.
This comes after the Supreme Court’s directive to reinstate four NPP MPs whose seats had been declared vacant by Speaker Alban Bagbin.
The four MPs—Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central)—had filed to contest as independent candidates in the upcoming December elections, prompting Speaker Bagbin to order the removal of their seats based on Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 Constitution.
However, despite the Supreme Court’s decision to halt Bagbin’s ruling, NDC MPs have made it clear that they will not comply, setting the stage for a potential clash when Parliament resumes.
Adaklu MP Governs Kwame Agbodza was defiant in a post on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “The Supreme Court may have to come to parliament to enforce the bizarre ruling.” Bawku Central MP Mahama Ayariga echoed this defiance on TV3’s *The Key Point Show*, warning that “we shall see on Tuesday.” Both MPs suggested that NDC lawmakers are prepared to take on their NPP counterparts to assert their majority claim.
The Speaker’s Controversial Ruling
Speaker Bagbin’s decision, which stripped the NPP of its slim majority, was based on the constitutional mandate requiring MPs who declare their intention to contest as independent candidates to vacate their seats. Bagbin argued that delaying the implementation of this rule would render the constitutional requirement ineffective.
With the Speaker’s ruling, the NDC briefly gained the upper hand in Parliament, with 136 seats compared to the NPP’s 135. This shift in power allowed NDC’s Cassiel Ato Forson to assume the position of Majority Leader, while Alexander Afenyo-Markin of the NPP was relegated to Minority Leader.
The Supreme Court’s directive, however, restored the NPP’s majority, temporarily halting Bagbin’s ruling. Afenyo-Markin, speaking after the court’s decision, welcomed the judgment, stating, “We came to court believing that the court will do right, and indeed the court has done right.”
Criticism of the Court’s Decision
The court’s swift ruling has faced criticism from some quarters. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu questioned the urgency with which the decision was made, suggesting that the speed with which the ruling was delivered undermines public trust in the judicial system. Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini went further, accusing the judiciary of being influenced by the executive under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration.
My guy Lawyer Kpebu must be protected at all costs 🔥💯.
Power of Justice system is being eroded, and it will take years to rebuild. The supreme court is giving people reason to believe that it’s now a political Organisation.#Agyapade3IsReal#SayNoToAgyapade3… pic.twitter.com/iKWkxZdwx5— Aristotlektv (@aristotledada) October 19, 2024
These concerns have fueled the NDC’s resistance, with many MPs expressing dissatisfaction over the court’s handling of the case and insisting that they will enforce Speaker Bagbin’s ruling when Parliament reconvenes.
A Repeat of Past Parliamentary Clashes?
The brewing tension is reminiscent of previous confrontations in Parliament, particularly following the contentious 2020 general elections. At the time, both the NDC and NPP claimed to have won the majority of parliamentary seats, leading to heated exchanges and physical confrontations.
On January 6, 2021, during the dissolution of the seventh Parliament, NDC MPs occupied the seats reserved for the majority, sparking a scuffle with NPP lawmakers. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, MP for Ablekuma West, was involved in a notable altercation with Asutifi South MP Collins Dauda. Additionally, Owusu-Ekuful was later seen sitting on the lap of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, MP for Juaboso, in a bizarre turn of events during the heated exchanges.
Parliament descended into chaos during the debate over the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) bill in 2022, with MPs throwing punches and grappling on the chamber floor.
The Parliament of the Republic of Ghana 🇬🇭
The 4th and may be the last brawl of the year 2021. pic.twitter.com/sYnnlfta8W
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) December 21, 2021
With both the NDC and NPP claiming to hold the majority in Parliament, the country is poised for another fierce confrontation. Tuesday’s session promises to be a critical moment in Ghana’s political landscape, as MPs on both sides prepare to defend their positions on the floor.
