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8th Parliament of Fourth Republic inaugurated

Thursday, January 7, 2021, saw the inauguration of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic in accordance with Article 100(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Date Created : 1/7/2021 : Story Author : Ghanadistricts.com

The inauguration and subsequent swearing-in of all the 275 elected members of parliament followed the successful selection of the new speaker of parliament for the 8th Parliament.

This was after the 7th Parliament of the Fourth Republic was dissolved at midnight, in accordance with Article 113(1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The night was very eventful particularly the processes leading to the selection of the Speaker.

While there was an objection by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to allow the presence of the Assin North MP-elect, because of the supposed court injunction, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would not have any of that and insisted he took part in every proceeding in the house including voting to elect the speaker.

The NDC needed the numbers to achieve their goal and finally succeeded in doing so as their candidate for the speakership, Alban Bagbin eventually emerging as the speaker of the house.

He beat the candidate of the New Patriotic Party, the former Speaker of the 7th Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye.

The height of the night during the election of the speaker was when the Member of Parliament for Tema West, Carlos Ahenkora snatched the ballot papers from the hands of a parliamentary official at the end of the election in the Speakership race between Alban Bagbin of the NDC, and Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye of the NPP.

He, however, underestimated his colleagues to be so swift in apprehending him before he made his way out of the chamber.

Meanwhile, the Clerk of Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah announced that the august house will not be responsible for the actions of the Assin North MP-elect who defied the court order and participated in the voting exercise.