Parliament Suspends Proceedings Due To Lack Of Quorate

Proceedings of Tuesday’s July 11, 2023 Sitting of Ghana’s Parliament were suspended for almost three hours due to the lack of a quorate number to transact business.

As at the time Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah processed into the chamber for the start of proceedings, there were no members of the Minority side whiles the number of Majority members (MPs) were about 10.

The Speaker had to suspend sitting due to the poor attendance in the chamber.

The Minority NDC through their Leader and Deputy Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah respectively had separately announced the caucus’s decision to accompany its three members standing trials to the court any day their cases are due.

The absence of the minority at the start of proceedings on Tuesday was therefore as a result the hearing of the High Court ruling on the application filled by MP for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson against the court’s decision to hold daily trial of his case.

“Mr Speaker, we are solidarising with our colleague and we will not participate in the business of the House anytime our colleague (James Gyakye Quayson) is in court and we will be withdrawing from the chamber after this ceremony if the court processes indeed happen today.”

This decision was later escalated to include trials of the Minority Leader himself and Asutifi South MP Collins Dauda as announced by Mr Kofi-Buah and was first staged on Thursday, July 6.

Prior to suspension of proceedings on Tuesday, July 11, the second day, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called for a serious conversation on the decision by the Minority, a decision he said will have a toll on government business.