Speaker Adjourns House Indefinitely

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, on Tuesday, October 22, adjourned parliamentary proceedings indefinitely, citing the absence of a quorum as the official reason for the suspension. This decision came on the back of a very heated day in Parliament, characterized by disputes between MPs from both the NPP and the NDC. The tension revolved around the composition of the Majority in the House.

The drama unfolded earlier in the day when the NPP MPs walked out of the Chamber, leaving the NDC MPs occupying both sides of Parliament. This denied the House the required number needed for a quorum to approve any business. Unable to attain quorum, Bagbin had no option but to suspend the session.

Before adjourning, Speaker Bagbin briefly acknowledged receipt of communication from the Supreme Court, but he did not disclose its content. The communication is largely believed to relate to the recent legal wrangle over the declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant. The Supreme Court had given a stay of execution for the said ruling and, therefore, left the status of the seats in limbo.

This adjournment leaves many questions unanswered, especially as to vacant seats and wider ramifications of the political standoff that is still ongoing. Without a quorum amidst high political temperatures, parliamentary business remains at a standstill.

With both sides waiting for further directions, it is not known how this deadlock will be resolved whether the communication by the Supreme Court will give any direction about the disputed seats, or whether Parliament will meet anytime soon.