Parliament was thrown into brief disarray on Thursday, July 24, when Members of the Minority Caucus staged a dramatic walkout moments before the presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review.
The protest was sparked by what the Minority described as state-sponsored violence and electoral irregularities during the recent parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency.
The by-election, held in 19 polling stations, has been at the centre of a political storm, with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) alleging acts of intimidation, vote suppression, and the inappropriate involvement of security forces.
The Minority insists that the election was marred by attacks that undermined democratic values and citizens’ right to vote freely.
Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, speaking just before the caucus walked out, voiced deep concern over the growing trend of political violence during elections, describing the Ablekuma North rerun as a reflection of worsening conditions for electoral transparency and fairness.
“Electoral violence is becoming a dangerous feature in our democracy,” he said on the floor of Parliament. “The events during the rerun are not isolated—they are symptomatic of a deeper, systemic problem.”
Taking a measured tone while addressing Speaker Alban Bagbin, the Minority Chief Whip made it clear that the walkout was not intended to undermine the authority of the House but to register a strong objection to what he called “a grave assault on democracy.”
“We are committed to parliamentary processes, but we cannot sit here and pretend everything is normal,” he stated.
“We have planned a series of actions to draw attention to these developments, and as such, we cannot, in good faith, participate in this session of the mid-year budget review.”
As Minority MPs filed out of the chamber, they were met with heckling from members of the Majority, some of whom jeered and mocked the walkout. The reaction underscored the deepening partisan divide in the House, particularly over issues of electoral integrity and security force neutrality.
Speaker Alban Bagbin, in his response, acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised by the Minority. While he admitted that the issue of electoral violence deserved attention, he also noted that the timing of the protest clashed with parliamentary priorities, especially the constitutionally mandated budget presentation.
The Ablekuma North rerun has been under scrutiny since reports emerged of physical confrontations, alleged ballot interference, and the visible presence of uniformed security personnel at polling centres.
The NDC has since demanded a full investigation and sanctions against those responsible for the alleged infractions.
