Ghana’s parliament has been adjourned indefinitely following a legal dispute over Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. The ruling effectively halts all legislative activities less than two months before the general elections in Ghana, putting critical bills and budget approvals on hold.
The standoff arose between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), with tensions escalating after four lawmakers defected, giving the NDC a slim majority. The disputed seats include two NPP MPs, one NDC MP, and one independent MP.
Ghana’s constitution prohibits MPs from defecting to another party or running as independents, a rule at the heart of the current legal battle. The NPP has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Speaker’s decision was unlawful. NPP members walked out of parliament in protest, and party leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin defended the walkout, citing concerns about potential confrontation.
With the adjournment, key legislation, including a World Bank loan agreement, energy policies, and a mini-budget, remains in limbo. Rasheed Draman, executive director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, warned that the deadlock could paralyse government operations ahead of the December 7 elections.
