The Majority Caucus in Parliament has officially requested Speaker Alban Bagbin to urgently reconvene the House to discuss critical government matters requiring immediate attention.
This petition follows the indefinite adjournment of Parliament on November 7, after Speaker Bagbin suspended proceedings due to the absence of a prepared agenda from the Business Committee. The lack of scheduled items left lawmakers with no substantive issues to deliberate on.
While the Majority Caucus initially proposed a recall to address pressing matters, their absence during the suggested session disappointed Speaker Bagbin, who emphasized that parliamentary proceedings cannot proceed without an approved agenda and committee input.
In a letter dated Friday, November 22, 2024, and signed by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the caucus proposed Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024, as potential dates for the emergency recall.
The letter also urged Speaker Bagbin to exercise his constitutional authority under Standing Orders 57(3) and 58(4) to reconvene Parliament and address the outstanding matters.
These include requests for tax exemptions under the One District, One Factory Programme; a $250 million Ghana Financial Stability Fund loan from the International Development Association; and the President’s nominations for Supreme Court justices.
Other critical issues include the ratification of a mining lease agreement between the Government of Ghana and Ashanti Bauxite Company Limited for mining bauxite in the Atwima Mponua District and a mining lease agreement with Barari DV Ghana Limited for lithium exploitation in the Central Region.
“I must emphasise, respectfully, that these are high priority business for Government,” Afenyo-Markin added.
He stressed that reconvening Parliament at this juncture would send a powerful message of national unity and institutional stability.
“It would demonstrate that, even as we approach the peak of the electoral season, Parliament remains steadfast in its constitutional duties and committed to advancing the national interest through bipartisan cooperation,” he added.
