NPP and NDC MPs in standoff over who becomes the next Speaker as there’s no clear majority in parliament

Members of Parliament (MPs) on the tickets of both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) are currently in a standoff as to who leads the house as its speaker in the next parliament.

Currently, the NPP has nominated current Speaker Aaron Mike Oquaye while the NDC has also nominated experienced parliamentarian Alban Bagbin to occupy the same position when the 8th parliament comes into force on Thursday 7 2020.

As it stands, per the 2020 election results the NDC has 137 parliamentary representatives while the NPP also has the same number with one independent candidate. This phenomenon suggests that there’s no clear majority in parliament thus both parties are scrambling to have their preferred person lead the house.

The 7th parliament comes to an end at midnight today Wednesday 6 2020 and it is this parliament that can see to the legal investiture of President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia on Thursday 7 December 2021.

Meanwhile, both parties are bent on having their nominated representative lead the house and are very strong in their resolve not to allow their opponent to have their person lead the next parliament of Ghana as Speaker.

Comparing the two nominated candidates Alban Bagbin and Mike Oquaye, it appears the former has an appeal that resonates with both the NDC and NPP while the latter is seen to be partisan and uncompromising towards the opposition party.

Leaders of both sides of the political divide are claiming majority while clearly there is no majority. Only a compromise will do but as it stands there’s no sign of conciliation in the quarters of the second arm of government – the Parliament. It has been communicated that there will be secret ballot by parliamentarians to elect who leads Ghana’s parliament as the Speaker.

Until then, the political football is ready to be played.

 

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