Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament has announced steps to recall Parliament in early November, following calls from Members of Parliament (MPs) after an indefinite adjournment last week.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, who is currently preparing to lead Ghana’s delegation to the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International Conference in Sydney, Australia, from November 3 to 8, stated that he will return to Ghana earlier than planned to address MPs’ request to reconvene the House.
The announcement came during a meeting on October 30 between Mr. Bagbin and a five-member delegation from Ghana’s Council of State, led by its Chairman, Nana Otuo Siriboe II. The meeting provided an opportunity for the Council to discuss recent events in Parliament and understand the reasons behind the indefinite adjournment.
In a statement issued later that evening, the Speaker’s office shared that Council members had assured Mr. Bagbin of their support in working with him and House leadership to resolve any impasse preventing the House’s recall.
During the discussion, Mr. Bagbin is reported to have briefed the Council on recent developments, explaining his decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant. The Speaker’s office did not provide further details on the specific actions planned for Parliament’s anticipated reconvening.
Read the press statement below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COUNCIL OF STATE CALLS ON SPEAKER BAGBIN
A five-member delegation of the Council of State, led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, today called on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to ascertain at first hand, happenings in the legislature in recent times, resulting in the adjournment of the House indefinitely. After a long deliberation, members of the Council assured the Rt. Hon Speaker of their preparedness to assist him and the leadership of the House to resolve whatever impasse there may be, to pave the way for a recall of the House.
The Speaker gave a brief of the situation in Parliament and the basis of his pronouncements on the floor of the House. He assured the delegation of his commitment to the development of the country’s democracy and its people.
The Council applauded the efforts of the Speaker, in keeping the democratic credentials of the country high, through efficient handling of the legislature and his leadership as the President of Parliamentary Organizations like the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association International, (CPA), Conference of the Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSHAL) and an Executive member of the International Legislative Advisory Council of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in the United States of America. HRH Nana Otuo Siribuor encouraged him to continue with the good works in the interest of Ghana and all Ghanaians.
Mr. Speaker informed the delegation that he is compelled to lead the Ghana parliamentary delegation to attend the 67 Conference of the CPA International at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The Ghanaian delegation includes the former Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the two Leaders of the House, two Whips, the Clerk 10 Parliament, and other officials of the Parliamentary Service.
The conference is to take place from the 3rd to the 8th of November, where Speaker Bagbin, the Immediate Past President of CPA International, is expected to hand over to the newly elected President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Speaker of the Parliament of New South Wales, Australia.
The Rt. Hon Speaker however indicated that he will return to Ghana earlier than anticipated, due to a request by Members of Parliament to recall Parliament. He indicated that his office has already started processes to recall the house in early November.
Source:TheDotNews