The Member of Parliament-elect for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), was officially sworn into office on Tuesday by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
The ceremony, however, was preceded by a dramatic walkout by Minority MPs in protest of the Speaker’s refusal to allow Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh to deliver a statement before the swearing-in. Annoh-Dompreh had sought to address the House but was overruled by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who argued that remarks should be made after the oath-taking.
Dissatisfied with the Speaker’s ruling, the Minority staged a walkout, declaring, “Mr. Speaker, we cannot be part of this swearing-in.” Despite the protest, the ceremony proceeded without further disruption.
Aubynn’s induction follows a contentious parliamentary rerun in Ablekuma North, triggered by the Electoral Commission’s (EC) annulment of the original December 2024 election results due to widespread irregularities. The EC cited unsigned pink sheets, discrepancies in vote tallies, and procedural violations during collation as grounds for the nullification. In the rerun held earlier this month, Aubynn narrowly defeated the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Akua Afriyie by just 209 votes—34,090 to 33,881—marking a significant victory for the NDC in a constituency traditionally dominated by the NPP.
The swearing-in not only strengthens the NDC’s parliamentary presence but also underscores the ongoing tensions between the Minority and Majority in Ghana’s legislature. While the Minority’s protest highlighted procedural grievances, the smooth continuation of the ceremony demonstrated the Speaker’s adherence to parliamentary protocol.
Aubynn’s entry into Parliament sets the stage for heightened political dynamics as the NDC seeks to consolidate its gains ahead of future legislative debates.
