New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) were the first to show up in Parliament on Monday, December 16, when the House reconvened after nearly two months of political deadlock.
The caucus has taken over the right-hand side of the Speaker, a side their National Democratic Congress (NDC) colleagues occupied during the last two meetings while insisting they were the majority.
First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu, speaking to journalists on Monday, December 16, after Parliament reconvened, insisted that the NPP MPs had taken their rightful place.
“The Eighth Parliament will continue as it started in 2021,” he said.
However, the Minority MPs were not present in Parliament at the time.
Mr. Osei-Owusu also stated that he does not expect some of his colleagues who were defeated in the just-ended election to show up, even with key government business on the agenda.
“We will sit where we have sat since 2021, today. Well, what else can you expect? Some people are demoralized. So, can I expect everybody to be here? It’s normal. From my experience in the last four parliaments, we hardly get full attendance, so I’ll not be surprised if we don’t get all members present.”