Parliament was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday after Minority MPs abandoned their seats and surged into the centre of the chamber in protest over the declaration of the Kpandai parliamentary seat as vacant. The confrontation brought proceedings to an abrupt halt as tempers flared and marshals intervened to prevent escalation.
The uproar followed renewed clashes between both sides of the House over the controversial notice issued to the Electoral Commission (EC) declaring the Kpandai seat vacant. The Minority maintains that the move is unlawful, premature, and violates parliamentary procedure.
Majority Rejects Minority Objections
Before the chaos erupted, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga criticised the Minority’s sustained protest, accusing them of deliberately obstructing parliamentary business.
He insisted the Majority would “not be distracted by taunts and disruptions,” adding:
“You are only pretending to be democrats… How can the Speaker rule if he has not heard all sides?”
Ayariga maintained that there were more “decorous and responsible” ways for the Minority to express their disagreement without crippling the House’s work.
‘Government business will suffer’ – Minority warns
Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh stood his ground, warning that government business would “suffer” until the Kpandai matter was properly addressed. He argued that the letter notifying the EC of a vacancy “flies in the face of law” and must be withdrawn.
Tensions spiked immediately after his remarks. Despite the Speaker’s attempts to proceed with the day’s agenda, the Minority intensified their protest—standing up, marching to the centre of the floor, and chanting objections.
Scuffle Breaks Out, Marshals Intervene
The sudden movement triggered a heated confrontation as MPs from both sides rushed toward the centre aisle. Gestures became aggressive, voices were raised, and several lawmakers engaged in shouting matches mere inches apart.
Parliamentary marshals moved in quickly to separate MPs and restore calm.
The Speaker was forced to temporarily suspend proceedings as order could not immediately be restored.
Deepening Rift Over Kpandai Ruling
The chaotic scenes highlight the deepening standoff between the Majority and Minority over the Kpandai parliamentary dispute, which stems from a ruling by the Tamale High Court ordering a rerun of the election.
The fallout continues to polarise Parliament, with neither side showing signs of backing down as tensions rise in the House.
