NPP MPs Trigger Emergency Recall of Parliament
…Raise Concern For Urgent Gov’t Business
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament, has requested the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for an emergency recall of the House.
The move, comes barely 24hours after the Speaker on Tuesday, October 22, adjourned sitting indefinitely, following a stay of execution directive served on him from the Supreme Court.
The NPP MPs, led by their leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin, are asking Rt Hon Speaker, to rescind his decision and bring back members for urgent government business.
They want this done within a stipulated 7-day period.
In a memo from Second Deputy Majority Whip, Patricia Appiagyei, dated Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – same day the house was adjourned, quoted relevant provision in the constitution to back this request.
“Respectfully, on behalf of myself and the requisite number of Members of Parliament from the Majority Caucus, I have the honour to address you on a matter of utmost national importance. In accordance with Article 112(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992 and Standing Order 53 of the Parliament of Ghana, we hereby formally request a Meeting of Parliament. The signatories of members making this request are hereto attached,” it noted.
Urgent Business
The memo, listed the first two issues the MPs want the House to take into consideration.
They are tax exemption for designated beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme. Ghana Financial Stability Fund, an International Development Association facility of Two Hundred and Fifity Million United States Dollar ($250, 000, 000).
The third item, is a number of bills namely, the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 2024, Social Protection Bill, 2023, Customs (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Budget Bill, 2023, Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2023 and Intestate Succession Bill, 2022.
The Asorka MP explained that, their request was being submitted in good faith and in the national interest.
“We wish to emphasize that this request is 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.
“The matters outlined herein are of pressing importance and require the urgent attention of Parliament.”
“Considering the constitutional and statutory provisions cited above and in the exercise of our rights as Members of Parliament, we respectfully urge you to summon Parliament for a Meeting within the stipulated seven-day period.”
Meanwhile, the Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, is urging the NPP MPs, to take responsibility for the delays in the conduct of government business.
His remarks, follow the NPP MPs’ decision, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to boycott Tuesday’s sitting after MPs from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took over the majority side of the Chamber.
In an interview with Citi News on Tuesday, Mahama Ayariga emphasized that the NDC caucus remains ready to return to Parliament whenever the Speaker recalls the House, expressing their commitment to continuing with legislative business.
“We are in opposition and we are not responsible for conducting government business, but we came in our numbers, ready to assist them [NPP MPs] conduct government business. He [Afenyo-Markin] came and he was more interested in preserving his post as a former Majority Leader.
“So, if you say that we have wasted public resources, no. We were in the chamber, ready to do business. He is the one who ran away from his own business. So, who is the one who is wasting public resources?”
In a related development, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has openly expressed his deep disappointment in the performance and conduct of the Members of the 8th Parliament of Ghana.
In an interview with Citi News, Joe Wise, as he is popularly called, described the current parliamentary session as lacking focus, riddled with controversies, and failing to prioritise its core responsibility of lawmaking.
According to him, the 8th Parliament has failed to meet the legislative standards set by previous sessions, ultimately falling short of expectations.
In his remarks, the Bekwai MP, lamented the state of the 8th Parliament, pointing out that, instead of concentrating on its primary duty of making laws, the House, has frequently been sidetracked by unnecessary and unproductive disputes.
The Deputy Speaker specifically highlighted the insufficient number of laws passed during this parliamentary session as compared to previous ones.
He emphasised that the legislative output of the 8th Parliament, has been conspicuously low, both in terms of major laws and smaller legislative instruments.
“Let me say that I am disappointed in the eighth Parliament, generally. I said the other time that we have done very little in legislation. You can just take the number of laws and smaller legislations we have done. We have wasted so much time on inconsequential things, inconsequential matters. Our main job is making laws.
“You go and take the number of laws we have made in the last four years and compare with the other Parliaments and you see that the eighth Parliament has been the least.
“It has been full of controversy. Matters that previously we used to sit down and discuss and overcome and do, now we take them into fisticuffs and that is most disappointing to me.”
Source: Anchorghana.com
