The Minority in Parliament has staged a walkout over Speaker of Parliament’s insistence on carrying on with proceedings despite not forming a quorum in the House.
Less than one-third of the seats in Parliament were occupied by some Members of Parliament for business.
Article 102 of the 1992 Constitution states a quorum of Parliament apart from the person presiding shall be one-third of all members of Parliament.
The walkout was led by the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, who described the proceedings as “an illegality.”
“We don’t have a quorum but we are carrying on? What then is the use of our constitution and then the standing orders. That is not fair.”
“You are abusing your privilege in this House. You are making this House lawless Mr Speaker,” he insisted.
It is unclear why so many MPs were absent from Parliament but Mondays are not normal sitting days.
Currently, the leadership of Parliament is engaging the relevant authorities regarding the possible relocation of its business to the Accra International Conference Centre because of the spread of the novel coronavirus.
This is to ensure that the House has enough room to practice the protocols associated with social distancing in a bid to deal with the spread of the novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Addressing Members on Monday, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye announced interim spacing measures in the House in a bid to practice social distancing.
“For the time being, we will want to leave one seat in between every two members so that you sit in a way that will be healthy for us and also we will be showing a good example.”
“Meanwhile, we are in the process of making all relevant arrangements if we can relocate temporarily to the Conference Centre… And maybe these things will make people realize that Ghana is in need of a more spacious space.”
