Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has scheduled the House to reconvene on Monday, December 16, 2024, at 10 a.m. The announcement follows his earlier decision to decline a request by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to recall Parliament sooner to address a backlog of urgent legislative matters.
In a statement issued on December 2, Mr. Bagbin explained that the revised date was chosen to allow parliamentarians contesting the December 7 general elections adequate time to engage with their constituents. He added that the decision aligns with Order 58 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, which authorizes the Speaker to summon the House when deemed necessary. Details regarding the session’s venue are expected to be communicated to members shortly.
The Speaker’s refusal to grant the earlier request for a recall was supported by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus, who argued that reconvening at the proposed time was unwarranted and poorly timed. With the new date confirmed, Mr. Bagbin emphasized his commitment to ensuring that outstanding legislative work is concluded before the year’s end.
The announcement has elicited mixed reactions. While some have commended the Speaker’s adherence to parliamentary rules, others have raised concerns about potential delays in addressing critical government business. As Parliament prepares to resume, attention will be on its ability to efficiently tackle the pending legislative agenda to facilitate a seamless transition into the ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
