Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have forfeited their majority sitting position to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
NPP leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, emphasized that his party will not provide the NDC with the “lawless platform” they are seeking.
Speaking to the media in the Chamber, Afenyo-Markin stated, “We will not give them that platform. We will not give them that theatre they so aggressively seek to disrupt democracy and to destroy our nation. We believe the appropriate thing is to quietly yield to them and wait upon Mr. Speaker.”
This shift comes after both NDC and NPP MPs occupied the majority side, leaving the minority section completely vacant. NPP Caucus Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh claimed the Majority Leader’s seat, preventing the NDC Caucus leader from taking it. In response, the NDC moved their Minority Leader’s black chair to the majority side, allowing their leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to sit there.
Traditionally, MPs sit on brown chairs, while leaders of both the majority and minority occupy black ones. By taking the black chair intended for the Majority Leader, Mr. Annoh Dompreh symbolically asserted the position for the NPP, but the NDC countered this move with their own symbolic gesture.
Currently, NPP MPs are exiting the chamber, planning to return only when Speaker Bagbin arrives, while NDC MPs are seen chanting within the chamber, highlighting the rising political tensions surrounding the seating arrangement.
NDC MPs march and sing on the majority side of parliament #TV3NewDay pic.twitter.com/TbJudSreVx
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) October 22, 2024
