Chaos erupted on the floor of Parliament on Friday, January 24, disrupting proceedings and leading the Speaker to suspend the sitting for 30 minutes.

The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, struggled to control the situation as members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority caucus began chanting and banging their tables following the presentation of the business statement.

The business statement, presented by the Majority Leader and leader of government business, Mahama Ayariga, outlined the business for the coming week.

However, shortly after the presentation, the Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin raised concerns about the business statement.

He reminded the House that the former Majority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, had assured Parliament that the issue of violence surrounding the Ablekuma North parliamentary election would be addressed.

Mr Afenyo-Markin stated that the Minority had strongly protested the way the Electoral Commission was being criticised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Greater Accra Regional party.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of space in the business statement to discuss the violence in the Ablekuma North constituency and other violent incidents across the country.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Minority MPs stood up, holding placards with various inscriptions, banging their tables, and chanting, “No Ablekuma North, No Government Business.”

This led to the Speaker suspending the House for 30 minutes to restore order.

When proceedings resumed, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin took charge of his side, urging his fellow MPs to cease the chanting.

The business statement was then allowed to proceed without further disruption.