Parliament does not have numbers to take decisions, House adjourned indefinitely - Speaker Bagbin

Parliament does not have the numbers to take decisions and following that the House has been adjourned indefinitely. 

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin informing the House Tuesday afternoon [Oct 21, 2024] said even though they have the numbers to transact business, the House did not have the numbers to take decisions.

This followed a walkout by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) side following a disagreement about sitting arrangements as to which side was to occupy the Majority and Minority sides of the House.

The disagreement over the sitting arrangement followed a ruling by the Speaker last Thursday, that declared four seats vacant on the grounds of crossing carpet following the affected Members of Parliament's decision to file for the December 7, 2024 parliamentary elections in different capacities, either as independent candidates or on the ticket of a political party.

Following that, the NPP side, led by their leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin filed an ex parte motion at the Supreme Court, asking that the ruling of the Speaker should be halted.

The Supreme Court after hearing the plaintiff, directed the Speaker to halt implementing the ruling until the final determination of the matter.

But the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament insisted that per the Speakers ruling, the numbers in the House have now tilted in their favour with 136 seats while that of the NPP is 135 and therefore, per their understanding, the NDC side were now the Majority in Parliament.

While the NPP side argued per the Supreme Court directive, the status quo has not changed, the NDC side insisted otherwise.

The NPP therefore decided to walkout when all members from both sides decided to occupy the side of the Speaker, normally reserved for the Majority side.

Read also: NPP Caucus walks out Chamber ahead of Tuesday’s proceeding

When the Speaker arrived and started the business of the day on Tuesday with prayers and correction of minutes, he went ahead to give his information to the House.

But before he proceeded, he raised the issue of quorum and said based on the numbers he was seeing in the House, he could see they had the numbers to do business but did not have the numbers to take decisions.

"I want to read the said Article 102 of the constitution. It reads, a quorum of Parliament apart from the person presiding shall be one third of all the Members of Parliament."

"As presently constituted, the numbers present is far above the one third of the Members of Parliament. But by Article 104, the numbers are not sufficient for us to take decisions. And I will quote Article 104. Article 104 (1) says, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, matters in Parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority of members present and voting with at least, half of all the Members of Parliament present.

"Honourable 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 is a question on the composition and constitution of Parliament, and having regards to public interest and the exigencies of the state of affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to, in accordance with Standing Orders 59, adjourn the House indefinitely, that is sine die."

"I want to quote Standing Order 59 (1). It says the Speaker may in consultation with leadership, suspend a sitting of the House indefinitely or for a period to be determined by the Speaker, having regard to public interest and exigencies of the state of affairs of the country.

"Honourable members, I have consulted leadership and I am exercising my discretion to decide to suspend the meeting of the House indefinitely. The House is accordingly adjourned sine die," Speaker Bagbin said.