Constitutional Standoff: NDC and NPP MPs occupies majority side in Parliament
In an unusual occurrence in Parliament today, both National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs took seats on the majority side, leaving the minority side entirely empty.
This unusual seating arrangement stems from the ongoing confusion over which party holds the majority, following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four vacant parliamentary seats on October 17.
NPP Caucus Deputy Whip, Habib Iddrisu, sat in the Majority Leader’s chair, preventing the NDC Caucus leader from taking that position.
In response, NDC MPs swiftly moved the Minority Leader’s black chair to the majority side, allowing their leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to sit there.
It’s customary for all MPs to sit on brown chairs, but the leaders of both the majority and minority sides sit on distinctive black chairs. By taking the Majority Leader’s black chair, Mr. Annoh Dompreh symbolically claimed the majority position for the NPP.
Despite the leadership tension, the atmosphere in Parliament remained cordial, with MPs from both parties seen smiling and engaging in friendly conversation, even while seated on the same side.
This development follows Speaker Bagbin’s declaration that four parliamentary seats—three held by the NPP and one by the NDC—were vacant, shifting the balance of power in Parliament.
With the NDC holding 136 seats and the NPP reduced to 135, the NDC quickly asserted itself as the new majority.
However, on Friday, October 18, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on Speaker Bagbin’s ruling, allowing the four MPs to continue representing their constituencies until a final court decision is made.
Despite the court’s ruling, the NDC has refused to give up its claim to majority status, arguing that Parliament operates as an independent arm of government and the judiciary should not interfere with its functions.
Source: Felix Nyaaba//expressnewsghana.com
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