Ghana’s Parliament was thrown into turmoil after Minority MPs stormed the centre of the chamber in a dramatic protest against what they described as an unconstitutional move to declare the Kpandai constituency seat vacant.
The emotionally charged demonstration, which nearly degenerated into a physical clash, briefly halted proceedings, but did not stop the Majority from approving the 2026 Budget allocation reports.
Dressed in black to “mourn parliamentary democracy,” the opposition MPs abandoned their seats and massed at the well of the House, chanting and waving placards. Their sudden surge triggered a counter-movement from Majority MPs, turning the chamber into a battlefield of shouts, finger-pointing and rising tempers. Parliamentary marshals rushed in to keep the two sides apart.
The uproar erupted after Speaker Alban Bagbin deferred a formal ruling on the legality of the Clerk of Parliament’s declaration of the Kpandai seat as vacant. Despite the pending appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, Bagbin insisted that the day’s business should continue, prompting the Minority to intensify its protest and drown out proceedings.
In the midst of the chaos, NDC MPs stationed themselves strategically at the dispatch box to read out budget allocation reports from various winnowing committees. With the Majority leveraging its numerical advantage, each report was swiftly seconded and adopted through voice vote, even as opposition chants reverberated across the chamber.
The standoff stems from a December 4, 2025, letter from the Clerk of Parliament to the Electoral Commission declaring the Kpandai seat vacant following a High Court ruling ordering a rerun of the parliamentary election. The Minority insists the Speaker acted prematurely, arguing that the matter remains sub judice.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga remained unyielding, accusing the NDC side of attempting to “paralyse the House” to block rulings they oppose. “We will not be distracted,” he stressed.
But Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh fired back, vowing that no further government business would be allowed until the Kpandai controversy is resolved. “We are prepared to sustain our resistance,” he cautioned.
After the Majority rammed through the contested budget approvals, Speaker Bagbin abruptly adjourned the House, leaving uncertainty over Wednesday’s continuation of the budget process.
Speaking to journalists after the session, First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu condemned the day’s events. “As far as we are concerned, no government business took place today,” he said, adding that the Minority would “advise ourselves” ahead of the next sitting.