The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament has requested the Speaker of Parliament to summon Parliament to transact urgent government business. A memorandum addressed to the Speaker, signed by the Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi Akontombra, Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, cited three urgent matters for consideration, including six bills, and five legal basis for the request to summon Parliament.
The others are seeking parliamentary approval for $250 million International Development Association facility to operationalise the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, and the consideration of six bills, namely the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 2024; the Social Protection Bill, 2023; the Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Budget Bill, 2023; the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2023, and the Intestate Succession Bill, 2022.
Mr Djornobuah also attached the list of MPs on the Majority side which had 138 members, out of which about 80 had signed the request, representing almost 58 per cent and more than 15 per cent requesting to trigger a recall of Parliament. Providing the context of the request, the Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip said Parliament had adjourned sine die last Tuesday, without any explanation to the circumstance leading to the adjournment.
The Sefwi Akontombra legislator emphasised that the request was being made “in utmost good faith and in the national interest to enable the government to discharge its constitutional and democratic obligations to the people of Ghana”. He said the matters outlined for the Speaker’s consideration to summon Parliament were of pressing importance and required the urgent attention of the House.
Mr Djornobuah cited Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 53, among others, for the request for Parliament to reconvene. Article 112(3) of the Constitution, states: “Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, fifteen per cent of Members of Parliament may request a meeting of Parliament; and the Speaker shall, within seven days after the receipt of the request, summon Parliament.”
