The Minority Caucus in Parliament staged a walkout on Thursday ahead of the presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review, in protest of the violence that marred the recent parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North.
The action follows the controversial rerun, which the Minority claims was characterised by voter intimidation, violence, and the misuse of state security apparatus.
Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, stated that the caucus could not in good conscience participate in the budget proceedings while remaining silent on what they described as a grave assault on democratic processes.
The walkout drew sharp criticism from the Majority side, with some members hooting and jeering at the departing Minority MPs as they exited the chamber.
Addressing Parliament shortly before the Minority’s walkout, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh acknowledged growing concerns about electoral violence, aligning with the opposition’s stance on the troubling developments seen during the Ablekuma North rerun.
“Increasingly, electoral violence is rearing its ugly head in our fledgling democracy,” he said. “The recent rerun in 19 polling stations in Ablekuma North is clearly revealing.”
He took a respectful tone in addressing the Speaker but firmly outlined the justification for the Minority’s decision to exit the chamber, describing it as a principled stand against undemocratic conduct.
“Speaker, with respect, I will not on any day try your authority. We have lined up a number of activities to back our demands, and to the extent that these acts of violence are not addressed and are visited on us at home, we cannot be part of the mid-year budget review. And to that extent, we are exiting and cannot be part of this,” he stated.
Although Speaker Alban Bagbin agreed to the need to discuss electoral violence, he stressed that it was not the appropriate time.
It was after this the Minority declared its intention to walk out and did so.
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