The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on Speaker Alban Bagbin to reject the recall request put forward by the Majority Members of Parliament.
This request, made through a memo dated November 22 by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, seeks to convene Parliament following its indefinite adjournment on November 7.
The adjournment came after Speaker Bagbin suspended proceedings due to a lack of a prepared agenda from the Business Committee.
However, in a counter memo addressed to the Speaker on November 25, Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Forson argued that the recall request did not meet the constitutional and procedural criteria outlined in Article 112 (3) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Order 53(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Forson contended that these requirements were essential for the validity of the recall process.
The Minority added that the proposed recall dates of November 28 and 29 are “ill-fated and ill-timed recall. Should this request be granted, not only will members of Parliament be required to truncate their important engagements with the electorate, but members will have to contend with logistical and other challenges to commute over long distances, difficult and hard-to-reach constituencies to Accra.”
“Further, the petitioner has not demonstrated that there is any emergency nor urgent government business to warrant a recall of Parliament, with barely eleven (11) remaining days to the crucial 2024 General Election,” the Minority’s memo added.
