Bagbin Recalls Parliament
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has recalled Parliament to sit after he indefinitely adjourned the House about a month a ago.
In a letter by the Parliamentary Service, it was announced that the House will resume sittings on December 16, 2024.
“PURSUANT TO ORDER 58 OF THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GHANA, I, ALBAN SUMANA KINGSFORD BAGBIN, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, HEREBY GIVE NOTICE THAT, THE SEVENTH MEETING OF THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE EIGHTH PARLIAMENT OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC SHALL COMMENCE ON MONDAY, THE 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2024 AT TEN O’CLOCK IN THE FORENOON AT A PLACE TO BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER IN DUE COURSE.”
This comes after the Speaker declined a request by the leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader in Parliament, Hon Alexander Afenyo Markin to recall the House for two days before the December 7 election to transact outstanding public business and urgent Government Business.
The Speaker in his letter declining the request justified that this was to afford members of the House the due period to present their manifestoes, account and justify the mandate given them by voters in the past four years.
“Hon. Leader, as you may be aware, the performance of the functions of Parliament and the duties of members of Parliament extend beyond the plenary sittings of Parliament.”
“Bearing in mind the provisions of Article 296 (a) and (b) of the Constitution, 1992, and the closeness of your proposed dates to the general election, I am of the considered opinion, that it would not be in the national interest to interrupt the campaigns of members and parties by a recall to the plenary sitting of Parliament.”
Additionally, he indicated that two days were insufficient to deliberate on the 22 items that needed the action of the House.
The Speaker added, “I accordingly suggest that the government prioritizes these businesses together with others not captured by your memo for consideration after the conduct of the General elections on the 7th of December 2024.”
The Speaker was for the second time forced to adjourn the House sine dine on November 7 after the NPP caucus failed to show up for business despite requesting a recall of the House following the October 22 adjournment.
In his remarks that day, he said, “Unfortunately, the signatories for the request have not shown up and therefore matters they wanted us to handle which are admitted for the consideration of the Business Committee are not on the Order Paper. In fact, there is no Order Paper today because the Business Committee could not meet due to the absence of the people who requested the recall.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
