Parliament reconvenes today amidst sitting tensions

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

Members of Parliament will gather at 10 a.m. at the Accra International Conference Centre, the temporary location for legislative sittings as Parliament House undergoes renovations.

The Speaker’s decision to recall Parliament is in line with Article 112 (3) of Ghana’s Constitution, which permits the Speaker to summon Parliament when deemed in the public interest.

Although the agenda has not been disclosed, it is expected that MPs will discuss urgent national issues.

This session follows a contentious adjournment on October 22, which left relations tense between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The dispute centers on which caucus holds the majority, a matter that has led to heated exchanges and frequent disruptions.

The disagreement persisted despite a recent Supreme Court ruling, which declined Speaker Bagbin’s application to stay an earlier decision.

Speaker Bagbin has emphasized that he does not dictate seating arrangements, but the uncertainty surrounding the majority side has fueled an ongoing power struggle.

As Parliament reconvenes, MPs are bracing for a potentially volatile session.

Many anticipate that the unresolved seating arrangement will spark further debate, especially as both parties continue to assert majority claims.

With the cross-carpeting issue still looming, today’s session may see new clashes as Parliament grapples with these underlying divisions.