Ghana’s Parliament Adjourns Sitting Prematurely After Only 24 Of 275 MPs Showed Up

Ghana’s Parliament on Monday July 15, 2024 adjourned sitting prematurely after only 24 lawmakers of of a total 275 showed up in the chamber at the commencement of the day’s proceeedings.

This represents 8.73% of the total number of Ghanaian lawmakers who attended upon the House for their parliamentary duties on Monday.

Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed raised the concern about the lack of quorum to transact business even as the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh intends to lay the Ewoyaa Lithium and Bauxite agreement before the House.

Mr Murtala who fortified himself with provisions of the Standing Orders of the House in his submission argued that the majority group members have consistently absented themselves and relied on the numbers of the minority caucus for the execution of government businesses.

He accused members of the Majority of abandonning their parliamentary responsibilities to campaign in various constituencies across the country whiles the minority members acted otherwise.

“Mr Speaker, I’m standing on order 64 to raise a quorum for transactions for business this morning. They bring business to this house, and they can’t consistently rely on our numbers to have government business executed.

“It demonstrates a lack of seriousness, I don’t think we need to give them this opportunity. They are in our constituencies campaigning, yet they expect us to execute their business for them. It’s completely unacceptable, we could have also done that, we could have left this house, but we have decided to act responsibly.”

The Speaker of the House, Alban Sumana Kingsford ordered a headcount to be conducted but only 24 MPs were available for business of the day after the exercise.

Mr Bagbin was compelled to adjourn sitting to the following day.

“Honourable members, head count 24, the house is adjourned.”

Members of the Minority caucus had earlier hinted of evoking the Standing Orders on quorum if members of the majority caucus failed to avail themselves for business of the house.

By: Christian Kpesese