Ghana’s eighth parliament of the Fourth Republic have been characterised by a lot of historical events making it the most with first time happenings.
Since the swearing-in of the 275 MPs on January 7, 2021, it has been one dramatic event after another.
The nature of the parliament led to various misunderstandings, especially in the matter of passing bills and other matters.
As a parliament which started dramatically, the end might also be that of confusion as both caucuses are now claiming to be the Majority side.
Let’s explore some of the major happenings.
The first hung parliament
The results of the parliamentary elections in 2020 became the first in history when both NPP and NDC won the same number of seats. NDC won 136 seats and NPP won 136 out of the 275 seats in parliament. This became problematic as it was necessary to determine who became the majority in parliament.
The independent candidate who won in Fomena, a former NPP MP, was left with the decision to choose a side to do business with and he chose the NPP, thus making them the majority in parliament.
The member of a party in opposition becomes Speaker
Per Articles 95, 96 and 100(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, Parliament is mandated to elect a speaker and two Deputies. In 2021, it happened that the lot fell on a former Member of Parliament from the National Democratic Congress’ side, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. This came after he polled 138 votes out of the 275 votes cast by members on Thursday, January 7, 2021.
The capabilities of Bagbin were not in contention but, the ruling party, New Patriotic Party, NPP, was in power and having an opposition member as a speaker was the first.
An independent MP becomes Deputy Speaker
Article 96 of the 1992 Constitution, among others, provides that at the commencement of every Parliament, or as may be necessary, the House shall elect two Deputy Speakers who shall be known as the First and Second Deputy Speakers.
The 8th parliament elected Andrew Asiamah Amoako as the second deputy Speaker, even though he run in the 2020 elections as an independent candidate. Before going solo, he run on the ticket of the NPP and won as the MP for Fomena.
He was, however, sacked from the party after he filed to contest the Fomena parliamentary seat as an independent candidate during the 2020 election. This was the first time an independent candidate occupied that seat in parliament.
The first ballot theft
During the vote to elect the Speaker of Parliament, Carlos Ahenkorah, MP for Tema West snatched the ballot papers while counting was ongoing and fled with it. He was apprehended by the other MPs who stopped him from fleeing. The NPP side lost the votes to Speaker Bagbin.
MPs of the ruling party called for the finance minister to be sacked
NPP MPs in 2022 called for the sack of the then finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who was appointed by their government. The MPs were calling for the removal of the minister because according to them, he was running the economy into a financial mess.
Also witnessed as a first in this parliament was the moment when the Majority walked out of Parliament during discussions on a business they brought to the house themselves, that is, the E-Levy.
Minority becomes Majority 50 days to next elections
In a dramatic turn of events, NDC has been named the Majority in parliament after the Speaker declared four seats vacant.
Three of the four seats were NPP seats which led to them becoming the minority in parliament. The affected MPs are Cynthia Morrison, the NPP representative for Agona West, Kwadwo Asante, the NPP MP for Suhum, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, an independent MP for Fomena who plans to stand as an NPP candidate in the upcoming elections, and Peter Kwakye-Ackah from the NDC, representing Amenfi Central.
However, a Supreme Court ruling overturned the Speaker’s decision on October 18, 2024, less than 24 hours after the verdict.
With both sides still holding claim to the Majority caucus, Ghanaians wait to see how events will unfold in parliament on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
SSD/ ADG
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