Drama In Parliament As NDC, NPP Caucuses Occupy Majority Side Of The House

• Tension brewed in Parliament as the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Party tussled over the majority side of the house
• Drama unfolded after the NDC members of parliament moved from the minority side of the house to join the NPP MPs on the majority seats
• The tussle among the parties follows the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin's ruling to vacate four parliamentary seats on October 17, 2024

Parliament has been thrown into chaos following a disagreement on seating arrangements.

Members of Parliament from both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have taken up seats on the majority side of the house, leaving the minority side unoccupied.

This peculiar arrangement follows the ongoing power tussle between the NPP and NDC after Speaker Alban Bagbin vacated four parliamentary seats on October 17, 2024, ultimately changing the composition of the house, per the BBC.

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NDC forces NPP out of parliament amidst majority status tussle

In the televised happenings in parliament, the NPP Caucus Deputy Whip, Habib Iddrisu, rushed to occupy the Majority Leader’s seat after it appeared the NDC Caucus Leader was approaching.

The NDC MPs, in response, moved a black chair from the minority side of the house to the majority side of the house, allowing Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to take his seat.

The situation thus suggests that today, in parliament, there would be two majority leaders and no minority leaders. However, the MPs are rather calm and cordial despite the brewing tension.

Supreme Court stays Bagbin's declaration

YEN.com.gh also previously reported that the Supreme Court has ordered a stay of execution on Speaker Alban Bagbin’s vacation of four parliamentary seats in the Ghanaian parliament.

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NDC caucus vows to resist attempts to undermine speaker's order: "We're the majority"

Following the NDC caucus invoking Article 97(1)(g) of the 1992 constitution, it was ruled that four MPs who opted to run as independents or crossed the floor were in contravention of the act.

However, the NPP caucus, discontented with the ruling, filed a suit asking the Supreme Court to interpret Article 97(1)(g) of the constitution and injunct parliament from enforcing the ruling.

The Supreme Court issued a stay of execution against the Speaker’s ruling on Friday, October 18, 2024, directing Parliament to allow the four affected MPs to continue their duties until the court's ruling.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh