The Minority in Parliament has issued a stern warning that government business will continue to stall until the dispute over the Kpandai parliamentary seat is resolved.
This follows a noisy protest in the Chamber over the vacancy notice Parliament sent to the Electoral Commission (EC), and an unsuccessful bid on Tuesday, November 9, 2025, to halt House proceedings entirely.
Minority Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh had earlier addressed the House in a formal statement, after which the Caucus broke into persistent chants that disrupted proceedings, forcing two brief suspensions and prompting Speaker Alban Bagbin to assume the chair.
His presence did little to calm tensions, as the Minority demanded the immediate withdrawal of the notice to the EC and an adjournment of business until the following day.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga rejected the call for adjournment, insisting that the House had work to do “with or without” the cooperation of the Minority.
During the heated exchanges, Annoh-Dompreh declared: “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 government business cannot proceed smoothly while the Kpandai seat remains declared vacant.
“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 Whip stressed.
The Caucus also insisted the Speaker erred in declaring the seat vacant based on a Tamale High Court ruling that annulled the election of NPP MP Matthew Nyindam, arguing that the declaration 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 chaos escalated and the Majority taunted the Minority to stage a walkout if they were unwilling to work, the Chief Whip held his ground amid jeers: “Nobody is going anywhere… we are not moving.”
Despite the disruptions, the Majority proceeded with business. Marshals formed a protective barrier as tensions rose, and the House ultimately approved 33 budget estimates for various institutions while the Minority continued chanting.
On November 24, 2025, the Tamale High Court annulled the election of NPP’s Matthew Nyindam, citing irregularities in the polls.
Following the ruling, the Clerk to Parliament — on the Speaker’s directive — formally notified the Electoral Commission to begin processes for a by-election.
However, the NPP has since filed an appeal, arguing that the Speaker should have awaited the appellate decision.
The Minority insists the Speaker acted lawfully under Article 112(5) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires the declaration of a vacancy once a court annuls an election.
