Accra: Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has sounded the alarm on the limited capacity of the current parliamentary chamber. He warned that the structure’s integrity may be compromised if the number of Members of Parliament (MPs) keeps increasing.
According to Ghana News Agency, with the swearing-in of two new National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs, Mr Bernard Bediako Baidoo for Akwatia and Professor Alidu Seidu for Tamale Central, the House now has a full complement of 276 MPs. “We are happy now to have the full complement of the House. We now have 276 MPs. Anytime the number increases, we have to create space for the member. So please, before this number increases, you must, as a country, as a Republic, start looking for a proper place,” Mr Bagbin urged.
“If not, the integrity of this structure is being undermined-a word to the wise is enough,” he cautioned. The current parliamentary chamber has undergone recent renovations, including a £2.26 million project to upgrade the facility. However, Mr Bagbin emphasized that those renovations may not be sufficient to accommodate the growing number of legislators.
The development comes as Parliament prepares to tackle key issues, including the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. The current political party representation of the House stands at Majority Caucus: 185 seats (with support from four independent MPs), while the Minority Caucus boasts 87 seats.