The Majority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has formally requested Speaker Alban Bagbin to urgently reconvene the House to address crucial government matters. The appeal, made in a letter dated Friday, November 22, 2024, follows the indefinite adjournment of Parliament earlier this month due to the absence of a prepared agenda from the Business Committee.
Parliament was adjourned on November 7 after Speaker Bagbin expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of substantive issues for deliberation. Although the Majority Caucus initially proposed a recall to handle pressing national matters, their failure to appear during the proposed session drew criticism from the Speaker, who insisted that parliamentary proceedings require a properly approved agenda.
In the letter, the Majority Caucus proposed Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024, as suitable dates for the emergency recall. They also called on Speaker Bagbin to invoke his constitutional authority under Standing Orders 57(3) and 58(4) to facilitate the reconvening of Parliament.
The Majority Leader highlighted several critical issues awaiting parliamentary approval, including:
- Tax exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme.
- Approval of a $250 million facility from the International Development Association for the Ghana Financial Stability Fund.
- Consideration of Supreme Court Justice nominations submitted by the President.
- Ratification of mining agreements, including one for bauxite extraction in the Nyinahini Block 2 area and another for lithium exploitation at Essoym in the Central Region.
“These are high-priority matters for the government,” Afenyo-Markin emphasized. He argued that addressing these issues promptly would demonstrate Parliament’s commitment to its constitutional duties, even amid the heightened activities of the electoral season.
The Majority Leader also underscored the importance of the recall in fostering bipartisan cooperation and strengthening institutional stability. “It would send a powerful message of national unity and reaffirm Parliament’s dedication to advancing the national interest,” he concluded.
The Speaker’s decision on the request is now eagerly awaited, with many looking to Parliament to resolve these pressing national issues.
