The Ghana parliament’s Speaker has halted proceedings indefinitely due to chaotic scenes in the chamber over a dispute about which party holds the majority. Last week, it was revealed that four MPs had switched parties and would run for different parties in the upcoming general election. Speaker Alban Bagbin then declared their seats vacant, stating that the constitution does not allow MPs to switch parties. In a closely divided parliament, this decision has made the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) the majority party. The President’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) has challenged this decision in court. The judges have requested the Speaker to suspend his declaration until they reach a decision. Tuesday’s parliamentary session was the first since the Supreme Court’s directive, and both NPP and NDC MPs attempted to occupy seats reserved for the majority party. Eventually, the NPP leader instructed his MPs to leave to avoid conflict. The NDC lawmakers then sang party songs and marched around the chamber. With not enough MPs present to make decisions without the NPP legislators, the Speaker suspended proceedings indefinitely. This suspension has significant implications as the government will not be able to secure approval for crucial funding and laws, potentially impacting the country’s governance in the coming year. Ghana is known for its stable democracy, but the outcomes of its elections are often very close. Following the 2020 elections, both the NPP and NDC had 137 MPs each, with the NPP gaining the majority with the support of an independent candidate. The discovery of four MPs switching parties was only made when the list of candidates running for parliament was released ahead of the upcoming vote. Many Ghanaians are concerned about the political turmoil’s impact, especially on the economy. The high cost of living is a key campaign issue for both parties and their presidential candidates, current Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia for the NPP and the NDC’s John Mahama. Akufo-Addo will be stepping down as president after serving two terms in office.
