Brawl in Parliament as NDC MPs ‘hijack’ chairs for Majority

MPs-elect from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Wednesday decided to occupy the right section of the Speaker of Parliament earmarked for the Majority side in the Seventh Parliament.

Hours ahead of the inauguration and commencement of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, the NDC MPs-elect went into the Chamber of the House and decided to rip the labels and names on the right aisle of the Speaker’s seat.

The right side of the Speaker is designated for the Majority. The two sides have been haggling over who has the majority in Parliament.

Most of the NDC MPs wore white apparel and indicated they were not going to relocate to any other part of the Chamber as they remained seated as early as 10 pm.

The NPP MPs ignored their colleagues until 11 pm.

The confusion started when NPP MP for Ablekuma West Ursula Owusu-Ekuful entered and sat amidst the NDC MPs.

Her explanation was that she thought proceedings were still being held under the Seventh Parliament hence took a seat on that section.

Short of trading punches, members of the two sides engaged in shoving and screaming matches.

This resulted in a confrontation between several legislators from both sides as they yelled and shoved each other over the development.

NDC MP for Sagnerigu, A.B.A Fuseini had to be whisked at a point to avoid further degeneration into chaos.

It took some efforts of some other MPs to ensure calm.

While the melee ensued, there was no sign of the leadership of the house.

interestingly, the man considered by many as a rabble-rouser, Kennedy Agyapong, who is the MP for Assin South became a peacemaker.

Both sides have 137 members with Andrew Asiamah, the independent MP for Fomena opting to join the NPP side when the need arises.

The NDC believes they have the Majority, a claim held by the NPP as well.

A Speaker is expected to be elected and both sides are jostling to ensure that the third-highest office of the land is occupied by their ranks.

The NPP has nominated Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, who was Speaker of the Seventh Parliament and the NDC is also gunning for former MP for Nadowli, Alban Bagbin.

Commenting on the development, NDC MP for Wa Central, Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo said there was no Majority hence “when you enter, you choose where to sit”.

He said the NDC MPs choose the right side of the Speaker and that was where they were going to seat.

But NPP MP for Ofoaso Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said they had a hint before the inauguration that the NDC MPs were going to put up with such an act.

He, however, observed that the Chamber is just a “one polling station to elect a Speaker” and the position of seats for Majority and Minority was irrelevant.

Meanwhile, some NDC MPs such as A.B.A Fuseini who represents the Sagnarigu has said he will not attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Nana Akufo-Addo after the constitution of the Eighth Parliament.