On Monday, July 15, 2024, Parliament adjourned its session with only 24 Members present in the House.
Earlier, the minority caucus had threatened to disrupt parliamentary activity on the grounds that they wouldn’t have a quorum if they didn’t take advantage of the house’s agenda.
Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the Tamale Central member of parliament, brought up the subject of quorum during Monday’s proceedings. Majority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh was scheduled to present the Ewoyaa Lithium and Bauxite deal to the House.
Murtala maintained that the minority’s strength cannot be continuously relied upon by the majority to carry out government activities.
Murtala argued, “Mr Speaker, I’m standing on order 64 to raise a quorum for transactions for business this morning. They bring business to this house, and they can’t consistently rely on our numbers to have government business executed.
“It demonstrates a lack of seriousness, I don’t think we need to give them this opportunity. They are in our constituencies campaigning, yet they expect us to execute their business for them. It’s completely unacceptable, we could have also done that, we could have left this house, but we have decided to act responsibly.”
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin was compelled to adjourn sittings after a headcount revealed that only 24 Members of Parliament were available for proceedings.
“Honourable members, head count 24, the house is adjourned.”
