Bagbin adjourns Parliament indefinitely

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has announced the indefinite adjournment of parliamentary proceedings, a decision made on Tuesday, October 22.

This move comes after a tumultuous day in the Chamber, characterized by heated disputes between Members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the question of which caucus holds the Majority.

During the adjournment announcement, Speaker Bagbin briefly noted that he had received a communication from the Supreme Court, which directed him to stay his earlier ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.

However, he did not elaborate on the details of the communication, leaving MPs and observers in the dark regarding the implications of the Court’s directive.

The Speaker informing the House on Tuesday said although they have the numbers to transact business, the House did not have the numbers to make decisions.

“Hon. members, we don’t have at least half of all the Members of Parliament present. Consequently, in view of the current circumstances, the fact that there’s a question on the composition and constitution of Parliament, and having regard to the public interest, and the exigencies of the affairs in Parliament. I will proceed to in accordance with standing order 59 adjourn the house indefinitely, that is sine die.

“Hon. members, I have consulted leadership and I’m exercising my discretion to decide to suspend the meeting of the house indefinitely, the house is accordingly adjourned sine die.”

This communication is crucial as it pertains to the ongoing legal battle surrounding the four parliamentary seats—two from the NPP, one from the NDC, and one independent—that were declared vacant by Bagbin on October 17.

The Supreme Court’s intervention has put a hold on that ruling, adding a layer of complexity to the already fraught political situation.

The affected seats are, Agona West (Cynthia Morrison), Fomena, (Andrew Asiamah), Suhum (Kwadjo Asante) and Amenfi Central (Peter Kwakye Ackah).

Earlier in the session, NPP MPs decided to vacate the Chamber, effectively leaving the NDC to occupy both sides of the House. This dramatic exit was in response to the escalating tensions and disagreements over the Majority designation, which has been a focal point of contention since Thursday, October 17.

The absence of NPP MPs resulted in a lack of quorum—the minimum number of members required to conduct official business—prompting Bagbin to cite this as the reason for the adjournment.

Bagbin’s choice not to fully disclose the contents of the Supreme Court’s communication leaves significant questions unanswered regarding the status of the vacant seats and the overall legitimacy of the parliamentary composition. This ambiguity adds to the uncertainty that currently envelops parliamentary proceedings.

With Parliament adjourned indefinitely, the immediate future remains uncertain as both the NPP and NDC await further clarity on the substantive case before the Supreme Court.