Parliament of Ghana was thrown into a period of darkness on Thursday as Members were debating a motion to thank the president on his message on the state of the nation.

The lights of the debating chamber went off as deputy minister of finance Abena Osei Asare (MP, Atiwa East) concluded her argument as the first debater. Mrs. Osei Asare in her argument spoke about how the government had successfully renegotiated energy debts with Independent Power Producers in order to keep the lights on. The chamber erupted with Members of the minority group chanting “dumsor, dumsor, dumsor” while others held their mobile phones up with flashlight beaming across the chamber.

The development led to a brief interruption in parliamentary proceedings for a few minutes whiles the emergency generator kicked in to keep the lights in the Chamber back on.

It however emerged that Parliament of Ghana was owing the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to the tune of GH¢23 million which compelled the utility service provider to initiate action as part of its ongoing “Operation Zero Balance” being pursued to recover unpaid debts. Sources close to the National Taskforce of ECG confirmed to ceditalk.com that they carried out the disconnection to Parliament House and the Job 600 office complex for Members of Parliament due to the outstanding debt.

Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (MP, Ellembele) rushed into the chamber and announced on the debating floor that there were MPs and staff trapped in the elevator but the Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh (MP, Nsawam-Adoagyiri) noted that the Marshal had been informed about it. Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service at Parliament House were quickly dispatched to rescue those who were trapped in the elevator.