Ghana’s Parliament is expected to be a chamber of law, order and democratic maturity. But over the past five years, the House has repeatedly made headlines for all the wrong reasons, from shoving matches to midnight brawls.

Here are four major moments when lawmakers abandoned procedure and chaos took over.

January 7, 2021 – Chaos during election of Speaker

The 8th Parliament began on a turbulent note when the election of the Speaker turned into chaos.

Tempers flared, ballot papers were snatched, and members nearly came to blows.

The MPs-elect at thew time on the eve of the event were captured arguing over who sits on the majority or minority side of the House.

It generated into pushing and shoving, calling each other names, kicking of a ballot box, snatching of ballot papers, among others, causing chaos in the chamber at the watch of the world.

At some point, military and police barged into the Chamber to maintain peace and order. This has incurred the displeasure of most Ghanaians who are calling on the Speaker to start an investigation into what happened.

However, despite the widespread public condemnation and regular calls for investigations into the incident no formal investigative committee was ever established.

December 20, 2021 – Midnight brawl over E-Levy approval

A brawl broken out in Ghana's parliament during a late-night session over a contentious government-proposed levy on electronic transactions.

MPs shoved, pushed and threw punches at each other, while others tried to stop the fighting.

The chaos started after opposition MPs rushed forward to prevent the then Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu from leaving his seat to vote.

He was chairing the session, which was then adjourned because of the disorder.

The then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) rejected the proposed levy of 1.75% on electronic transactions, which includes mobile-money payments.

The NDC at the time said it will hit low-income people and those outside the formal banking sector.

But former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta stated that it was necessary to widen the tax net, arguing that it could raise an extra 6.9bn Ghanaian cedi ($1.15bn; £870m) next year.

February 1, 2025 – Physical altercation during ministerial vetting

There was chaos in the Parliament of Ghana over the vetting of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The Appointments Committee had agreed on vetting four nominees on January 30, 2025.

However, five were vetted and two more were being added, including the then minister-designate of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the minister-designate of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, which generated the chaos.

As a result of the chaos between the Majority and Minority, microphones and tables were destroyed.

The Minority side were seen overturning the vetting table.

“We agreed on four; we have done five. Kofi Adams was not part of the process, but we have done it. It will not happen,” Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyire, who doubles as Minority Chief Whip, said in an interview at the time.

Four MPs were suspended and a committee was set up to investigate but its findings were never made public.

December 9, 2025 – Chaos over declaration of Kpandai seat vacant

Chaos erupted in Ghana’s Parliament during proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, after members of the Minority Caucus abandoned their seats and massed at the centre of the chamber.

The disturbance flared during heated exchanges over the declaration of the Kpandai parliamentary seat as vacant, a decision the Minority maintains is unlawful and procedurally flawed.

Before the confrontation, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga had dismissed what he described as the Minority’s “continuous and orchestrated protest,” insisting he was not surprised by their attempts to obstruct parliamentary business.

The Bawku Central MP accused the Minority of deliberately derailing parliamentary work over the contested Kpandai seat, arguing that the caucus had resorted to noise-making and unruly behaviour to prevent the Speaker from delivering rulings.

However, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh countered sharply, warning that government business would “continue to suffer” until the Kpandai matter is resolved.

Moments after his remarks, tensions escalated.

Despite the Speaker’s attempts to proceed, Minority MPs intensified their protest, rising from their seats, marching into the middle of the chamber and chanting in opposition.

The sudden movement triggered a chaotic confrontation, with MPs from both sides surging toward the centre of the floor.

GhanaWeb cameras captured dramatic scenes inside the chamber as MPs in a heated face-off, papers flying through the air and the Member of Parliament for Assin South, John Ntim Fodjour, seen angrily yelling at a colleague.



AM

#TrendingGH: Extension of IGP's contract draws praise and criticism



Watch some videos from the NPP’s 2025 Constitution Amendment







The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let's Celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.
Who deserves to be honoured this year?
Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate