The 8th Parliament of Ghana has been a political showdown like no other, with MPs sparring at every turn in a high-stakes fight to secure control. The January 2021 inauguration brought an unprecedented hung parliament—137 seats each for the ruling NPP and opposition NDC, with a single independent MP tipping the scales. This rare balance set the stage for a term brimming with political manoeuvring, surprise alliances, courtroom battles, and an endless parade of twists and turns. What followed was nothing short of parliamentary theatre, with each party seizing any advantage to steer proceedings their way, even as the independent MP’s allegiances kept both sides on edge.
Opening Day Chaos: Election of the Speaker Turns Wild
Tensions flared from the get-go. The NPP rallied behind Aaron Mike Oquaye for another term as Speaker, while the NDC, eager to tip the balance, threw their support behind Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. What should’ve been a straightforward vote quickly descended into chaos, with MPs clashing over ballot boxes and suspicions running high. At the height of the commotion, one MP was even caught trying to swallow a ballot paper, a moment emblematic of the pandemonium on the floor. When the dust finally settled, Bagbin emerged victorious, securing a historic win as the first Speaker from the opposition—a power shift that set the tone for the turbulent sessions to come.
Who’s the Real Majority? Fomena MP Takes the Spotlight
With Bagbin in the Speaker’s chair, the struggle for control took off in earnest. Both parties vied for the majority, each claiming they held sway—until the independent MP from Fomena, Andrews Asiamah, announced his alliance with the NPP. Just like that, the NPP claimed a slim 138-seat majority and styled themselves as the “Majority Group.” But with both sides still grappling for dominance, arguments flared over who would sit on the prestigious right side of the chamber and who would control key committee roles. These disputes kept Parliament in near-constant friction, as neither side was willing to cede ground or let the other fully dictate the agenda.
E-Levy, Quorum Drama, and Supreme Court Showdowns
The budget brouhaha kicked off when the NDC Minority Group in Parliament rejected a proposed budget statement. This rejection came after the NPP Majority Group staged a dramatic walkout, only to return arguing that the NDC’s numbers weren’t enough to dismiss the budget. The dispute escalated to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the quorum needed to begin parliamentary sessions differed from the quorum required to make decisions on budgetary matters and other votes, clarifying the numbers needed for such rejections.
Then came the E-Levy battle. Branded by the public as unpopular as a pothole, this controversial electronic transaction tax proposal saw the Minority once again walk out in protest. But undeterred, the NPP Majority went ahead and passed the bill, arguing they had the quorum for it. Despite the Supreme Court’s prior verdict on quorum requirements, a legal challenge over the legitimacy of the E-Levy’s passage, led by Minority MPs Haruna Iddrisu and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, remains shelved in the Court’s archives, with no clear timeline for resolution.
Deputy Speaker’s ‘Right to Vote’ Stokes Outrage
Just when it seemed Parliament had reached peak tension, a fresh controversy erupted: could a Deputy Speaker cast a vote while presiding? Traditionally, this would be a straightforward no. But the Supreme Court’s ruling took a different stance, declaring that the Deputy Speaker could indeed vote when presiding. The NDC was outraged, calling it a “backdoor boost” for the NPP, given that it strengthened their hand in tight votes. The ruling sparked uproar on the floor, with some MPs decrying it as “a betrayal of parliamentary neutrality.” NDC members saw this as a clear tilt in the balance, accusing the court of eroding the impartial role of a presiding officer and leaving Parliament’s tension at an all-time high.
Executive Power Play Stirs a New Storm
Parliament’s power struggles weren’t confined to the House itself. In a move that stunned many, Nana Bediatuo Asante, the Executive Secretary to President Akufo-Addo, wrote a letter advising the Clerk of Parliament to withhold a bill and refrain from transmitting it for presidential assent. The NDC was quick to cry foul, accusing the Executive of overstepping its bounds and intruding on the independence of Parliament. Critics were left shaking their heads, fearing this was a blatant attempt by the executive branch to undermine parliamentary autonomy. This unprecedented intervention sparked heated debate, with many questioning the separation of powers and the checks and balances that should govern Ghana’s democratic institutions.
Leader Shakeups and Party Fallout
Just when it seemed like tensions might have simmered, both the NDC and NPP decided it was time for a political shake-up. In a move that shook the political scene, the NDC replaced their long-standing Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, with fresh faces Cassiel Ato Forson and Governs Agbodza, claiming they were better equipped to handle the job. Over on the NPP side, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was unexpectedly replaced by Alexander Afenyo-Markin as Majority Leader. The reshuffles were widely seen as an attempt to inject new energy into the parties and move away from the old guard, reflecting growing frustrations within the ranks as both sides geared up for the ongoing parliamentary battles.
Party Defectors Stir Up Constitutional Crisis
As the 8th Parliament neared its end, four MPs dropped a bombshell, declaring they’d run as independents in the next election. Fomena’s own Asiamah, once an NPP ally, did an about-face, while Yaw Kawkya Ackah, Cynthia Maamle Morrison, and Boafo Kofi Asante decided to go it alone. NDC leader Ato Forson called them out, citing Article 97 and urging Speaker Bagbin to boot them from Parliament. Bagbin obliged, declaring their seats vacant, but the NPP wasn’t having it. They rushed to the Supreme Court, which quickly issued an injunction, ordering the Speaker to hold off on the vacancy declaration.
Final Showdown: Parliament’s Adjourned, But the Drama’s Not Over Yet
In November 2024, the 8th Parliament hit its boiling point as the NPP returned to the chamber, only to stage a boycott. The absence of NPP MPs left Parliament unable to meet the quorum needed to continue, effectively putting legislative business on ice. With the NDC holding 136 seats compared to the NPP’s 135, the opposition seized the moment to claim a tenuous majority in a hung parliament. But with both sides unwilling to budge, the session was adjourned indefinitely, leaving Ghana’s Parliament in limbo.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Supreme Court’s upcoming session set for Tuesday, 12th November 2024. The Court will be interpreting Article 97(1), sections (g) and (h), in a bid to clarify rules around MP defections and majority claims. With both political blocs entrenched and unyielding, the stakes for parliamentary control are at an all-time high, signalling a fiery continuation of the legal and political deadlock that has defined this historic 8th Parliament.
Ghana’s 8th Parliament: proof that when the stakes are high, all rules are off!
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