Parliament Adjourns Due to Lack of Quorum as Only 24 MPs Attend
Parliament adjourned its sitting on Monday, July 15, 2024, after only 24 Members of Parliament (MPs) appeared in the House.
This followed a threat by the Minority to disrupt parliamentary business if the Majority caucus failed to ensure sufficient attendance for the House’s activities.
During the proceedings, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, raised the issue of quorum. This came amid plans by the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh, to present the Ewoyaa Lithium and Bauxite agreement to the House.
Murtala argued that the Majority cannot consistently rely on the Minority’s presence to conduct government business.
He stated, “Mr. Speaker, I’m standing on Order 64 to raise a quorum for transactions for business this morning. They bring business to this House, and they can’t consistently rely on our numbers to have government business executed.”
He continued, “It demonstrates a lack of seriousness. I don’t think we need to give them this opportunity. They are in our constituencies campaigning, yet they expect us to execute their business for them. It’s completely unacceptable. We could have also done that, we could have left this House, but we have decided to act responsibly.”
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, was compelled to adjourn the sitting after a headcount revealed that only 24 MPs were present. He announced, “Honourable members, head count 24, the House is adjourned.”
Source: Felix Nyaaba//expressnewsghana.com