Speaker Bagbin Adjourns Parliament Again as NPP MPs Fail to Attend

In another setback for Parliament, Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has adjourned the sitting sine die after Members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) failed to show up.

Addressing the House, Speaker Bagbin explained that the absence of the NPP MPs—who had previously called for the recall of Parliament—meant there was no quorum to proceed with business. He highlighted the procedural challenges, noting that without input from committees and a clear agenda, the session could not go ahead as planned.

Speaker Bagbin urged greater cooperation between the Majority and Minority caucuses, especially when addressing critical national issues, to ensure a smooth legislative process.

The adjournment comes amid rising tensions between the Majority and Minority groups, which have already disrupted parliamentary functions in recent weeks. With no set date for reconvening, Parliament’s agenda remains uncertain, leaving unresolved issues on hold.

In a shift of political dynamics, about 40 National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs moved to the Majority side, solidifying the NDC’s position as the new majority in Parliament. This move followed Speaker Bagbin’s declaration that four seats were vacant, resulting in the NDC now holding 136 seats compared to the NPP’s 135.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling on October 18 staying its decision, the NDC MPs have remained firm in their stance, choosing to align with Speaker Bagbin’s directive rather than the court’s ruling. Meanwhile, when the sitting commenced at 10 a.m., no NPP MPs were present to attend the session.