The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has announced the indefinite adjournment of parliamentary proceedings, following a tumultuous session marked by intense disputes between Members of Parliament (MPs) from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the Majority designation.

The decision, made on Tuesday, 22 October 2024, came after escalating tensions in the Chamber.

Speaker Bagbin disclosed that he had received communication from the Supreme Court instructing him to stay his earlier ruling, which declared four parliamentary seats vacant.

However, he did not elaborate on the specifics of the Court’s directive, leaving MPs and observers in uncertainty regarding its implications.

“Hon. members, we don’t have at least half of all the Members of Parliament present. Consequently, in view of the current circumstances, the fact that there’s a question on the composition and constitution of Parliament, and having regard to the public interest, and the exigencies of the affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to in accordance with standing order 59 adjourn the House indefinitely, that is sine die,” Speaker Bagbin stated during his announcement.

He added: “Hon. members, I have consulted leadership and I’m exercising my discretion to decide to suspend the meeting of the House indefinitely; the House is accordingly adjourned sine die.”

This adjournment is significant, as it pertains to an ongoing legal battle surrounding the four parliamentary seats, two from the NPP, one from the NDC, and one independent, that Bagbin declared vacant on October 17.

The Supreme Court's intervention has complicated the already fraught political landscape.

The affected seats include Agona West (Cynthia Morrison), Fomena (Andrew Asiamah), Suhum (Kwadjo Asante), and Amenfi Central (Peter Kwakye Ackah). Earlier in the session, NPP MPs vacated the Chamber, allowing the NDC to occupy both sides of the House.

This dramatic exit resulted from disagreements over the Majority designation, a point of contention since October 17.

The absence of NPP MPs led to a lack of quorum, the minimum number of members required to conduct official business, prompting the Speaker to cite this as the reason for the adjournment.