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Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the majority leader, asked the Speaker of Parliament to recall the House, but Alban Sumana Bagbin denied his request.
In order to ensure a seamless transition to the 9th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, the Speaker said that Parliament would meet again following the elections on December 7 to discuss all important issues.
Speaker Bagbin postponed businesses on November 7 because the Business Committee had not established an agenda, and the House was adjourned indefinitely.
Later, Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged Speaker Bagbin to use his constitutional powers under Standing Orders 57(3) and 58(4) to summon Parliament back to order and discuss the House’s outstanding business.
“I am writing in reply to your memo on the subject, which was received in the Office of the Speaker on Friday, November 22, 2024, while I was out of the office attending an invitation outside Accra. Your memo requests that I exercise my discretion, in accordance with Orders 57(3) and 58(4) of the Standing Orders of the House, to summon Parliament for two days—Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024—to consider twenty-two (22) items, all of which you have described as either outstanding public business or urgent government business” the Speaker stated in response.
“Hon. Leader, as you may be aware, the performance of the functions of Parliament and the duties of members of Parliament extends beyond the plenary sittings 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.”
Read the full post by Speaker Bagbin on his Facebook wall below:
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
