The Majority Caucus in Parliament led by Majority leader and leader of government business, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, has called for an extraordinary session of the House to consider some urgent Government Business.
The Majority Leader in a letter addressed to the Speaker said “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 an Extraordinary Session of Parliament.”
Article 112(3) of the 1992 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.”
Standing Order 53(1) states: “Despite any other provision, fifteen per cent of the Members of Parliament may request a meeting of Parliament and the Speaker shall, within seven days after the receipt of the request, summon Parliament.”
On Tuesday July 30, 2024, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin adjourned the House sine die, however the majority leader said the adjournment was done at a time that some items which he considered urgent had been duly advertised and scheduled for consideration.
According to the Effutu lawmaker, urgent matters for consideration by the House include a Motion on the Financing Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the International Development Association for an amount of $250 million for the Ghana Energy Sector Recovery Programme.
Others are Requests for Tax Exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme and the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, an International Development Association facility of $250 million adding that, Bills to be considered include Budget Bill, 2023, Rent Bill, 2023, University of Local Governance and Development Bill, 2024, Environmental Protection Bill, 2024 v. Social Protection Bill, 2024, and the Intestate Succession Bill, 2022.
Others are the Chartered Institute of Reconstruction and Insolvency Practitioners Bill, 2023, the Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill, 2024, and the National Petroleum Authority Bill, 2024.
These items, the Majority Leader said need urgent consideration hence the need for an extraordinary session.
“We wish to emphasize that this requisition is made in the 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 stated.
Additionally, Mr Afenyo-Markin noted that the matters outlined herein were of pressing importance and required 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 an extraordinary session within the stipulated seven-day period”, he said.
