Chaos erupted in Ghana’s parliament late Thursday night as lawmakers engaged in heated confrontations, destroying furniture and engaging in physical altercations.
The disturbances led to the unprecedented intervention of police officers inside the parliamentary chamber.
The incident occurred during a session convened to vet newly appointed ministers, a process that had already been marred by deep political divisions. Tensions boiled over as members of parliament (MPs) accused opposition lawmakers of deliberately stalling proceedings to settle political scores.
Disagreements turned into outright conflict, with some MPs damaging tables and microphones as verbal exchanges escalated into physical confrontations.
Video footage circulating on social media shows MPs pushing and shoving each other as the chamber descended into disorder. Parliamentary security struggled to restore order before police officers were eventually called in to de-escalate the situation.
The root of the conflict appears to be strong disagreements within the vetting committee, where opposition members expressed concerns over the suitability of certain ministerial nominees. Government-aligned MPs, on the other hand, accused their counterparts of engaging in obstructionist tactics rather than substantive debate.
The heightened political animosity reflects broader tensions ahead of Ghana’s upcoming elections, as both sides position themselves for electoral advantage.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has condemned the incident, calling for an inquiry into the disruptions and urging MPs to uphold decorum.
“Parliament is a place for debate, not brawls,” he stated, adding that those responsible for damaging parliamentary property may face disciplinary action.
Political analysts have warned that such incidents undermine public confidence in Ghana’s democratic institutions. “These scenes do not reflect well on Ghana’s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa,” said political analyst Dr. Kwesi Mensah. “Parliamentarians must remember that their actions set the tone for political discourse in the country.”
Meanwhile, calls for parliamentary reforms are growing, with some civil society organizations urging stricter enforcement of parliamentary rules to prevent future altercations.
The session was eventually adjourned, with a new date yet to be set for the continuation of the vetting process. As tensions remain high, all eyes will be on Ghana’s parliament to see how it moves forward from the latest controversy.
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