GENERAL

NPP MPs storm Parliament at 4am on Friday
Ghanaians will have to brace themselves for more interesting things from the legislature as happenings there promise to be interesting.

Date Created : 1/15/2021 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

With the issue of who which party forms the majority in parliament still an issue of contest between the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic party, sitting arrangements continue to cause a lot of confusion among the two parties.

On Friday, January 15, 2021, as early as 4am, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament were already in parliament, seated at the right side of the Speaker.

Meanwhile, sitting is expected to commence at 10am on Friday.

This obviously is aimed at avoiding a repeat of January 7, 2020, when the National Democratic Congress Members of Parliament occupied the same position and refused to relocate arguing they have the right to seat anywhere because of their numbers.

At the time, the NDC MPs contended that because both sides share the same numerical strength of 137-137 with 1-independent no caucus has the sole right to any side in the august house.

Even though the NPP caucus had sent the signal that they would be occupying the right side of the Speaker in subsequent sittings, it was least expected that they would forgo their sleep and storm the house that early; especially when the NDC caucus at their press conference on Thursday, January 14, addressed by their leader, Haruna Iddrisu stated that his side has no problem sitting at the left-hand side of the speaker, only if their number and influence would be respected by the NPP.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu debunked assertions by the NPP led by their leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu that because of the decision by the only independent MP, the Fomena MP to do business with the NPP does not in any way give the NPP the Majority slot in parliament. As such both caucuses would have to share everything equally including committees, and committee chairs.