Ghana’s Parliament Is Broke – Rev. Ntim Fordjour

Ghana’s Parliament is reportedly struggling to function due to severe lack of funds, according to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour.

Parliament’s red seats are empty, microphones are off, and there are no debates or discussions. This is because Ghana’s lawmakers are not meeting, not because they are on break, but as Rev. Ntim claims, it is because there is no money to run Parliament.

In an interview on Asempa FM on October 11, 2025, the MP, who also serves as the Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, revealed that the House has had to postpone its resumption several times because the government has not released the necessary funds for its operations.

 “An initial statement was issued (that Parliament was resuming), but because there was no money, they had to postpone it indefinitely, about three days later. Let’s put politics aside and call a spade a spade, hell would have broken loose if some of the things happening now had happened under President Akufo-Addo,” he said in Twi.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour expressed shock at the situation, describing it as the first time in his three terms in Parliament that the House has been unable to sit because of financial constraints.

“This is my third term in Parliament, but this is the first time I have seen that the House cannot have its sittings because there is no money. They have opened and closed the House on several occasions,” he said, adding, “We are just praying that the 21st October set for the resumption of the House’s sitting would happen.”

When asked to clarify whether the Speaker of Parliament had cited financial reasons in his official communication for the postponement, the MP said the truth is obvious.

“I only say the hard truth and air our challenges. I am pleading with the government to release funds to Parliament. If the NDC ministers will mount the courage and publicly air their worries, you will see that I’m not lying.

 The NDC ministers are also suffering, but they can’t say it. We are the ones in Parliament, so I know what I’m saying. Speak to any parliamentarian,” he stated.

According to him, the current situation has also created a constitutional challenge for the government, particularly concerning ministerial appointments. He disclosed that Ghana has been without a substantive Minister of Defence for more than a month due to Parliament’s inactivity.

He explained that the appointment of a minister requires the president to officially notify the Speaker of Parliament and present the nominee for vetting and approval, a process that cannot proceed while the House is not in session.

“No serious country would have their Minister for Defence position vacant for over a month. But you can’t appoint a Minister of Defence now. Why? Because Parliament is not in session,” he lamented.

 

Parliament to Resume Sitting

Following weeks of uncertainty, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has officially announced a new date for the House to reconvene.

A statement issued from the Speaker’s office and shared on Parliament’s official Facebook page on October 8, 2025, stated:

“Pursuant to the notice to defer the commencement of the third meeting of the first session of the ninth parliament of the fourth republic dated 6th October 2025, I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of parliament, pursuant to order 58 of the standing orders of parliament, give notice that the third meeting of the first session of the ninth parliament of the fourth republic shall now commence on Tuesday, 21st day of October 2025 at 1400 hours at parliament house, Accra.
Dated in the office of the speaker of parliament, Accra, this 8th day of October, 2025.”

Earlier, on October 6, 2025, the Speaker had announced an indefinite suspension of Parliament’s sitting, citing “circumstances beyond my control.”

“Pursuant to the notice to summon parliament dated 29th September, 2025, I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of parliament, hereby give notice that the commencement of the third meeting of the first session of the ninth parliament of the fourth republic is deferred until further notice due to circumstances beyond my control.
Dated in the office of the Speaker of parliament, Accra, this 6th day of October, 2025,” the statement read.