The Minority in Parliament has issued a terse warning to the House that government business will continue to suffer until the controversy surrounding the Kpandai parliamentary seat is resolved.
The warning followed a protest in the Chamber over the Kpandai seat vacancy notice that Parliament transmitted to the Electoral Commission, and a failed attempt to halt the House from carrying out any business on Tuesday, November 9.
Minority Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh had formally addressed the House in a statement, after which the Caucus resorted to persistent chants in the Chamber that halted business for the day, leading to two brief suspensions and the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, taking over the chair.
Also read: Minority demands withdrawal of Parliament’s letter to EC declaring Kpandai seat vacant
His presence, however, did nothing to appease the Caucus as they demanded the immediate withdrawal of the notice to the EC and an adjournment of business until the following day.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga resisted the call for adjournment and insisted the House had business to do and would discharge that with or without the cooperation of the Minority members.
Business will suffer
During the heated intervention, Hon. Annoh-Dompreh stated, “You can say whatever you want to say, but let me make it very clear to you — you cannot scare me. Whatever I want to say, I’ll say. What can you do?”
The Minority maintained that the government cannot expect smooth parliamentary business while the Kpandai seat remains declared vacant.
The Whip stressed, “For the record, we want to make it very clear to you that you cannot scare anybody here. And until Kpandai is resolved, government business will suffer.”
The Caucus insisted that the Speaker erred in declaring the Kpandai seat vacant based on the Tamale High Court ruling that annulled the election of NPP MP Hon. Matthew Nyindam. They argued that the matter should have awaited the outcome of an appeal.
“We are not doing any business, and we will not cooperate with you until Kpandai is resolved. Government business will suffer, and that is the point,” he said.
As the Chamber descended into chaos and the Majority side taunted the Minority to stage a walkout if they were not prepared to work, the Chief Whip maintained his stance amid jeers: “Nobody is going anywhere… we are not moving.”
The Majority, however, continued with business, with marshals forming a human shield against threats by the Minority to invade the Majority bench. The House eventually approved 33 budget estimates for various institutions amid chants and noise from the Minority.
Background
The Tamale High Court, on November 24, 2025, annulled the election of NPP’s Matthew Nyindam, citing irregularities in the polls.
Following the ruling, the Clerk to Parliament, acting on the Speaker’s directive, officially informed the Electoral Commission (EC) to commence the processes for a by-election.
However, the NPP has filed an appeal, arguing that the Speaker should have waited for the appellate process to conclude. The Minority maintains that the Speaker acted within the law — specifically Article 112(5) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the declaration of a vacancy once a court annuls an election.
The standoff now threatens to derail parliamentary business at a time when critical government bills and budget-related approvals remain pending.