Ghana’s Parliament plunged into disorder on Tuesday when Minority MPs stormed the well of the House in protest against the Speaker’s decision to treat the Kpandai constituency seat as vacant, sparking a near-brawl that briefly brought proceedings to a standstill.
Yet, the Majority still managed to ram through approval of the 2026 Budget allocation reports.
Dressed in black as a mark of mourning for what they called “parliamentary democracy,” dozens of opposition lawmakers left their seats, surged to the centre of the chamber and began chanting loudly while waving placards.
The sudden movement drew Majority MPs forward as well, turning the floor into a sea of shouting and finger-pointing figures until parliamentary marshals waded in to separate the two sides.
Speaker Alban Bagbin had earlier deferred his formal ruling on the legality of the vacancy declaration but directed that the day’s business should continue after a voice vote. The Minority rejected the ruling and intensified their demonstration, making it almost impossible to hear anything from the chair.
Even as the chaos unfolded, NDC members strategically positioned themselves at the table to read out the various winnowing committee reports on budget allocations for ministries, departments and agencies. The Majority quickly seconded each report and, taking advantage of their numerical strength, secured adoption by voice vote while opposition chants still echoed through the chamber.
The root of the confrontation lies in a December 4, 2025, letter from the Clerk of Parliament to the Electoral Commission declaring the Kpandai seat vacant following a High Court order for an election rerun. The Minority lawmakers insist the process is sub judice, with appeals pending at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and accuse the Speaker of acting prematurely.
The Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga remained defiant throughout the disturbance. “We will not be distracted,” he declared, accusing the opposition of “pretending to be democrats” and deliberately paralysing the House to stop rulings they dislike.
The Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh countered that no government business would move forward until the Kpandai issue is settled, warning that the opposition was prepared to sustain its resistance.
After the reports were controversially adopted, Speaker Bagbin abruptly adjourned the House, leaving the budget approval process hanging in the balance ahead of Wednesday’s sitting.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, the First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu described the day’s events as shameful. “As far as we are concerned, no government business took place today,” he said, adding that the Minority would “advise ourselves” when Parliament reconvenes.
