The Minority in Parliament has abstained from the swearing-in ceremony of the Member of Parliament-elect for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP), where the Minority caucus belongs, prior to the rerun of the election in Ablekuma North, announced to abstain from the process after saying the exercise was illegal.
Meanwhile, its candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, insisted on contesting, and was supported by some bigwigs of the party.
However, she lost the election after the results of the 19 polling stations were added.
At the swearing-in ceremony in Parliament Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, rose to make a comment.
“Mr. Speaker, we in the Minority will want to make a quick comment before the Member-elect is sworn-in and I seek your indulgence to do this quickly, with the greatest of respect before the Member-elect is sworn-in, if you may,” he said.
But in response, the Speaker noted he didn’t know the nature of the comment, indicating it was going to be very difficult for him to take a decision on the matter.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, after the Speaker’s comment said the Standing Orders of the House does not permit so. According to him, there are clear regulations that has to be followed, indicating the Majority’s opposition to his request to make those comments.
“Mr. Speaker, we have never done this before. So Mr. Speaker, if he had either an urgent public matter or a matter of a personal nature or anything, our rules are very clear, he should have drawn your attention in conclave, discuss the subject, and gotten and indication from you. But it will be a surprise and I don’t think that at this stage, this side of the House want to support that move,” Ayariga stated.
He added that the member-elect be sworn-in before any remarks would be made by the leadership of the House.
“I think that we should swear her in, then after we have sworn her in, whatever comments leadership may made, you can indulge us to make it,” he added.
The Speaker in response said the procedure needed to be followed, saying the swearing-in should be done before the comments would be made.
“The procedure we have is clear in the standing orders,” stated the Speaker, adding that “I’m enjoined by the procedure in the Standing Orders to invite her, after that, the House is given the opportunity to make comments.”
The Minority Chief Whip, in response to Speaker Bagbin said “If that is the turn of events, then we in the Minority for the records cannot be part of this very swearing-in and as a result, we are walking out.”
He, however, clarified that the walk out was specific to the swearing-in and the caucus was going to engage in other businesses of the House.
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