By Daniel Bampoe
Parliament on Tuesday witnessed a dramatic walkout by the Minority Caucus moments before the swearing-in of the newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn.
The protest, which temporarily disrupted proceedings, was prompted by a procedural disagreement involving Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
The controversy unfolded just before the official induction of Aubynn into the House.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh had sought to raise what he described as a “critical matter” on the floor prior to the oath-taking ceremony.
Catching the Speaker’s eye, he requested to make a formal statement, presumably related to concerns over the legitimacy or process of the swearing-in.
However, his attempt was swiftly blocked by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who argued that such matters should be deferred until after the swearing-in was completed.
Bagbin upheld the Majority Leader’s objection, ruling that any statements could be made after the new MP had been duly sworn in.
This decision did not sit well with the Minority. In a show of disapproval, Annoh-Dompreh declared, “Mr. Speaker, we cannot be part of this swearing-in,” and led his colleagues out of the chamber, leaving the Majority side to proceed with the ceremony unchallenged.
Despite the walkout, the swearing-in ceremony continued as planned.
Ewurabena Aubynn officially took her oath of office and was welcomed into the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
Her victory in the Ablekuma North by-election adds to the numbers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)-led Majority Caucus, now holding 184 seats, bolstered by support from 4 Independent MPs, bringing their tally to 188 out of 275 seats.
During the ceremony, Speaker Bagbin used the moment to call for greater tolerance and inclusivity in Parliament.
Addressing the now two-thirds Majority in the House, he cautioned against political arrogance and stressed the importance of maintaining parliamentary balance.
“The strength of Parliament lies in its diversity,” he said. “The voice of the Minority must always be respected and heard in the interest of national unity and democratic growth.”
The Speaker further encouraged MPs to exhibit maturity, decorum, and restraint, warning that political hostilities threaten to erode public confidence in the democratic process.
His comments are seen by some analysts as a veiled reminder to the Majority not to sideline opposition voices simply because of their numerical advantage.
