Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Bagbin has recalled Members of Parliament (MPs) from recess for emergency sitting on May 17, 2024.
The recall followed a petition from the Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin requesting for the sitting to consider outstanding government business including the approval of ministerial nominees who were duly vetted before Parliament was adjourned sine die on March 20, 2024.
Parliament is also expected to consider a motion for an “Additional Financing Agreement between GoG and the IDA for an amount of US$150 million to finance the ongoing Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project” and also a “Request for Tax Exemption for selected beneficiaries under the 1D1F Programme.”
“Mr Speaker, it is important to state that this request is being brought in good faith to enable Government to discharge its constitutional and democratic obligations to the people of Ghana,” the petition added.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin in a memo to the Speaker, cited Article 112(3) and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which stipulate that 15 per cent of Members of the House can request for Parliament’s recall.
Consequently, Speaker Bagbin summoned the MPs for the emergency sitting in accordance with these relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament.
In a communiqué dated May 10, 2024, Mr. Bagbin who was said to be out of Ghana when the majority caucus petitioned, indicated that, “Pursuant to Article 112(3) of the Constitution of the Republic and Order 53(1) & (2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, I, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, do hereby summon Parliament to sit on Friday, 17th May, 2024, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at Parliament House, Accra.
“Dated in the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, Accra, Ghana, this 10th day of May 2024.”
The upcoming sitting is expected to address pending legislative tasks and ensure the smooth progress of parliamentary deliberations as mandated by the relevant constitutional provisions and parliamentary regulations.
