The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has recalled Members of Parliament to reconvene on Friday, May 17.
In a statement sighted by The Accra Times dated May 10, he recalled the house under article 112(3) of the constitution of Ghana to sit on May 17 of this year.
“Pursuant to article 112(3) of the Constitution of the Republic and Order 53(1) & (2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, I, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament do hereby summon Parliament to sit on Friday, 17th May 2024 at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at Parliament House, Accra,” A portion of the statement reads.
The Majority in Parliament earlier invoked Order 53 of the House’s Standing Orders, requesting the Speaker to recall the House from recess. According to the Majority, this decision was made in good faith, with the intention of addressing pressing matters of national importance and seeking to endorse the Appointments Committee’s 34th report.
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The Majority caucus believes that it is essential to convene the House to discuss and address these critical matters, which are of great interest to the nation.
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In the petition to the speaker, they contended that a $150 million loan earmarked for financing the ongoing Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project is significant for a positive impact on the country’s economic growth.
They also aimed to address a tax exemption request for specific beneficiaries under the 1D1F Programme.
Speaking to journalists in parliament, Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin revealed that the petition to the Speaker garnered signatures from over a hundred caucus members.
“In politics, expect disagreements but such disagreements should not obstruct us. So they have made their case we understand them but it is our view that we have our 138 as the majority and we should be able to carry government business,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He also revealed that over 15% per cent of legislators appended their signatures to said request according to Article 112(3) and order 53 of the standing orders.
“The constitution talks about 15% of the total membership of parliament which if my mathematics is right is 42 but I am able to tell you on authority that we have more than 100 of our members who have signed the said prayer which is titled notice of meeting by request under Article 112(3) and order 53 of the standing orders,” he revealed.
