Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has declared that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Majority Caucus will not occupy seats allocated to the Minority, following the Supreme Court’s recent stay on Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant.
This issue has created a standoff in Parliament, with both sides positioning themselves ahead of the court’s final judgement, scheduled for Tuesday, November 12.
Afenyo-Markin addressed the situation on Monday, November 11, calling on Speaker Bagbin to maintain proper seating assignments and urging the Minority to return to their designated side of the chamber.
“I will never sit in the minority seats,” Afenyo-Markin affirmed. “That is not our rightful place, and spiritually, it is not even right. We will not move to the minority side; no NPP member will do that.”
The dispute stems from Speaker Bagbin’s decision on October 17 to declare vacant the seats of four MPs—Kudjo Asante (Suhum), Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central)—citing alleged violations of constitutional requirements. Afenyo-Markin and other Majority leaders, however, argue that the Speaker overstepped his authority by not pursuing judicial review or organising by-elections as prescribed.
The Majority Leader also revealed that the Council of State had intervened, speaking with Bagbin to confirm that the Minority would move back to their designated seats, a position he urged the Speaker to enforce to avoid further disruptions in Parliament. “The Speaker must ensure the Minority respects parliamentary decorum and takes their rightful seats,” he said.
The issue has sparked intense debate about the boundaries of parliamentary authority and constitutional protocol, with the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling expected to provide clarity. As tensions rise, the outcome of the case will likely have a profound impact on parliamentary operations and the roles of both the judiciary and legislative leadership in safeguarding Ghana’s democratic framework.