Speaker Alban Bagbin has declined a request by the Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to recall the House.
In a memo to Afenyo-Markin on Tuesday, November 26, Bagbin said Parliament will reconvene after the 2024 elections to address essential matters, ensuring a seamless transition to the 9th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
He noted that Members of Parliaments are touring the country at a crucial time to account for the four-year mandate given them by the voters, hence, it would not be in the national interest to interrupt the campaigns of members and parties by a recall to plenary sitting of Parliament.
“Again as you are aware, the parliamentary calendar acknowledges elections campaign periods. This season is for the Government, Parties, and both presidential and parliamentary candidates to present their manifestoes to the people, and to account and justify how the mandate given them by the voters for the four-year term of office has been applied to the benefit of the people. 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 plenary sitting of Parliament. Consequently, it will not be fair to exercise my discretion in favor of your request to summon Members of Parliament at this time to a two-day sitting to deliberate on twenty-two (22) items you consider urgent or outstanding government business.”
His response follows a memo by Afenyo-Markin dated November 22, urging the Speaker to reconvene Parliament for the third time, suggesting Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024, as suitable dates for the emergency recall.
The letter also asked Speaker Bagbin to exercise his constitutional mandate under Standing Orders 57(3) and 58(4) to reconvene Parliament and address the outstanding business of the House.
Among others, these businesses include the request for tax exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme; Ghana Financial Stability Fund, an International Development Association facility of Two Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars ($250,000,000) and the consideration of the President’s Nominations for Appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.
Others are the ratification of the mining lease agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (Represented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources) and the Ashanti Bauxite Company Limited for the Mining of Bauxite in the Nyinahini Block 2 Area in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region as well as the ratification of the mining lease agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (Represented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources) and Barari DV Ghana Limited for the Exploitation of Lithium at Essoym in the Central Region.
Read Speaker's response
