Audio By Carbonatix
Ghana's newly-elected members of parliament engaged in a scuffle on Wednesday night following a disagreement on the election of a new speaker.
The speaker was to be elected by secret ballot, but MPs from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) party kept displaying their marked ballot papers, to the displeasure of opposition MPs.
At some point a ruling party MP snatched the ballot papers while voting was still underway, sparking a confrontation.
Armed police and troops temporarily stormed into the chambers to restore calm.
Both the opposition and the ruling party have 137 MPs each, plus there is one independent MP..
A court had issued an order barring one opposition MP from voting for the speaker pending the determination of a challenge on his election. But he was somehow allowed to cast a vote.
The opposition has described last December's general election as flawed and has filed a challenge at the Supreme Court seeking annulment of the presidential election.
Latest Stories
-
Jason Arday: 10 things you may not know about British-born Ghanaian former Cambridge professor found dead at 41
2 hours -
KNUST partners with government to manufacture locally-made agricultural machines and smart traffic lights
2 hours -
Government to add constitutional referendum to 2027 District Assembly elections
3 hours -
Ambassador Nancy Sam meets South Africa’s Thanda to strengthen Africa tourism collaboration
3 hours -
Government disburses GH¢23.1 billion to clear road contractors’ arrears – Roads Minister
4 hours -
NPP Ashanti elections: 1,020 delegates to choose 11 regional executives
4 hours -
Galamsey: ‘Challenge is prosecution, not arrest’ — Lands Minister
5 hours -
Elliot Kabutey Tei outlines strategic blueprint to drive NPP victory in Tema East
6 hours -
MTN to build 80 new sites across the five regions of the north as part of a $1.1bn investment
6 hours -
The Polygamist’s creator says women see themselves reflected in her Netflix hit
7 hours -
UEW Hospital suspends OPD services over GAUA strike
8 hours -
Muzic Mensah selected for Boomplay’s inaugural ‘NEXT WAVE’ Programme
8 hours -
Prime Insight to tackle legal vacation controversy and $1million AKSA bribery case
9 hours -
Ghanaian evacuee from South Africa dies on arrival in Accra
9 hours -
Suicide and the fight to stay alive
10 hours