Parliament reconvenes today amidst vacant seat brouhaha

Parliament is set to reconvene today, Thursday, November 7, following a formal communique issued by Speaker Alban Bagbin.

The recall, communicated to Members of Parliament on October 31, specifies that the session will begin at 10 a.m. at the Accra International Conference Centre, the temporary location for sittings while Parliament House undergoes renovations.

The Speaker’s decision to recall Parliament aligns with Article 112 (3) of Ghana’s Constitution and Standing Orders 5 and 53, which allow the Speaker to summon Parliament in the public interest.

Although no specific agenda items have been disclosed, the session is anticipated to address pressing national matters.

This reconvening follows the indefinite adjournment of parliamentary proceedings on October 22, after a heated exchange between Members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over which caucus holds the majority.

The dispute has persisted, creating ongoing tension between the parties.

Despite the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of the Speaker’s application to stay its earlier ruling, the Speaker has clarified that he does not control seating arrangements in the Chamber.

However, this unresolved issue of which caucus sits on the majority side may lead to further disagreements as MPs take their seats for the session.

Source: Myjoyonline