Ghana’s Parliament on Tuesday approved key budget allocation reports for the 2026 fiscal year, overriding a tumultuous protest by the Minority caucus over the controversial declaration of the Kpandai parliamentary seat as vacant.
The sitting descended into chaos as Minority members abandoned their seats and massed in the centre of the floor, chanting and shouting in protest. The uproar forced parliamentary marshals to intervene as lawmakers from both sides traded accusations, briefly stalling proceedings.
Despite the disorder, the Majority succeeded in adopting the reports on budget allocations, a critical step in the approval of the 2026 budget. The Minority, however, maintained that until the Kpandai issue is resolved, they would continue to obstruct government business.
The protest was triggered by the Speaker’s directive to the Electoral Commission (EC) to declare the Kpandai seat vacant—a move the Minority argues is premature because the matter is still before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. After the contentious vote, the Speaker adjourned the House, ending a sitting marked by heated exchanges and protests.
Reaction:
First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu told JoyNews the manner of the approval was “shameful.” He stated that, from the Minority’s perspective, no government business had been conducted and that the caucus would “advise themselves” when the House resumes on Wednesday.
Background:
The Kpandai dispute stems from a letter sent by the Parliamentary Service to the EC chairperson last week, notifying her of a vacancy in the constituency following a High Court order for a re-run of the 2024 parliamentary election. Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has sharply criticized the move, arguing that only a court—not Parliament—has the constitutional authority to declare a seat vacant. The Minority has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the letter, calling it unlawful and procedurally flawed.
The approved reports are part of the broader process to pass the 2026 budget. Tuesday’s approval allows the budget to move forward, but the lingering standoff over the Kpandai seat casts uncertainty over how Parliament will navigate the remaining stages of the budget process.
The House is scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday, with the Minority vowing to continue its resistance until the Kpandai issue is addressed. The episode highlights the deepening tensions between the two sides over the interpretation of parliamentary procedure and constitutional mandates.
Story By: Nortei Nabi Akoso
