Why is Annoh-Dompreh already seated? – Kwame Agbodza quizzes

Chief Whip for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Governs Kwame Agbodza has raised issues with how Chief Whip of the New Patriotic Party, Annoh Dompreh made his way into the chamber at dawn.

According to him, there was an earlier security briefing by Parliament that the chamber would be opened at 8am.

Against this backdrop, Kwame Agbodza said he smells some government sponsored conspiracy with the security of Parliament to cause confusion.

Parliament is expected to reconvene today following a controversial ruling by the Speaker, Alban Bagbin declaring four seats vacant.

This decision by the Speaker meant that the NDC would assume the reins of majority.

Not enthused by the Speaker’s decision, the NPP MPs went to the Supreme Court for an order of a stay of execution.

This notwithstanding, the NDC held a press conference on Sunday to announce that they would only abide by the Speaker’s decision.

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

Speaker adjourns Parliament indefinitely

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has today adjourned the house indefinitely.

The Speaker cited lack of sufficient Members of Parliament to take decisions and the controversy about the composition of the house.

Additionally, he said he referred to the Supreme Court injunction on his decision last Thursday which declared four seats vacant.

Presiding over Parliament in the absence of the NPP MPs, he said “Yesterday I received a process from the Supreme Court directing parliament to recognize the four effected members of parliament to duly represent their constituents and conduct full scope of duties of their offices as Members of Parliament pending the final determination of a suit filed by Alexander Afenyo Markin.

He further added that “By Article 102 of the 1992 Constitution and order 64(1) of Standings I note that we currently have a quorum to do business, but not to take decisions.”

The Speaker added that “But by Article 104, the numbers are not sufficient to take a decision.I quote Article 104(1) says, Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, matters in Parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority of members present and voting, with at least half of all the members of Parliament present.”

The Speaker in his co concluding remarks said, “Hon Members, we don’t have half of all the members, consequently in view of the current circumstance, the fact that there is a question on the composition of parliament and having regard to the public interest and the exigencies of the state of affairs in Parliament I will proceed to in accordance with standing orders 59 adjourn the house indefinitely.”

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

News

Treat with disdain attempt to smear Speaker- Parliament

According to Parliament, their attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media insinuating that the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has been invited to a meeting with the President to negotiate a settlement in respect of the pronouncement by the Rt. Hon. Speaker on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

This is in response to a call by the Minority Leader to declare the seats of four (4) Members of Parliament vacant.

“Parliament states without any equivocation that there is no iota of truth in the insinuation
in the cireulated video,” the statement added.

Parliament further stated that “video in question was taken on July 4, 2024, when the Rt.Hon. Speaker led a delegation to present the maiden democracy cup to the President.”

According to the statement, “The attempt to wrongly label the video and twist facts to impugn the integrity of the Rt. Hon.Speaker and Parliament is not only disingenuous but unfortunate.”

“The general public is hereby advised to ignore the attempt to hoodwink them into believing what has never transpired and treat the narrative with the contempt it deserves,” they concluded.