A power blackout has hit parliament forcing the Speaker Prof. Mike Ocquaye to suspend sitting briefly, Thursday.

The House was considering the Technical Universities Amendment Bill 2020 when the Speaker pulled the breaks on proceedings.

Although there was power in the chamber because of a backup power system, Prof. Ocquaye told MPs; “I’m advised, Hansard (Department) is not recoding because of some power problem. We shall wait for a few minutes to see the development.”

Majority leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu told the Speaker, “even before you made the announcement, I looked through the doorway and there was darkness. I realized there was something wrong. The AC and everything is gone, so if you can suspend for a little while….say...30 minutes.”

Prof. Mike Ocquaye then suspended sitting around 12:45 pm. As at 1.40 pm, sitting hadn’t resumed.

Commenting on the development, Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy, Adams Mutawakilu said the blackout shows government is not committed to ensuring stable power supply.

“I gave a warning that in times of Covid-19, President Nana Akufo-Addo should ensure we have a constant power supply. Looks like he wants to prove to us he cares not. Haatso has light off.

"Many other parts of Accra have light off. Now, he wants to visit us in parliament to show that he does not care.

"That is why we are in what we are today because parliament cannot sit because there is light off,” he told Joy News.

Sitting resumed after one hour when the situation was rectified.