NDC, NPP Occupy Majority Side Of Parliament Ahead Of Crucial Sitting
Today in Parliament, an unusual scene unfolded as both National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) took seats on the majority side, leaving the minority side vacant. This development comes amid ongoing disputes over which party holds the majority, following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s declaration of four vacant parliamentary seats on October 17. The declaration affected three NPP MPs and one NDC MP, shifting the balance of power in Parliament.
Frank Annoh Dompreh, the NPP Caucus Chief Whip, claimed the Majority Leader’s seat, preventing the NDC leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, from sitting there. In response, the NDC quickly moved the Minority Leader’s black chair to the majority side, allowing Dr. Forson to take his place.
The symbolism of this chair movement is important, as the leaders of the majority and minority typically sit on black chairs, while other MPs use brown chairs. By occupying the Majority Leader’s black chair, Annoh Dompreh signaled the NPP’s continued claim to majority status, despite the Speaker’s ruling. The NDC countered by moving their own leader’s chair, asserting their claim to the majority as well.
Despite the dramatic standoff over seating arrangements and the brewing leadership crisis, the atmosphere in Parliament appeared cordial. MPs from both parties were seen conversing and smiling, suggesting that while the political tensions are real, there is an effort to maintain some level of decorum.
This situation follows Speaker Bagbin’s declaration that the four seats were vacant, which shifted the NDC to 136 seats and the NPP to 135, leading the NDC to assert itself as the majority. However, the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution on October 18, allowing the four MPs to remain in office until a final ruling is made. The NDC has refused to yield its newly claimed majority status, arguing that Parliament, as an independent arm of government, should not be subject to judicial interference.
This ongoing battle over the majority status has added another layer of complexity to Ghana’s political landscape, as both parties continue to navigate this period of uncertainty.