The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has announced that the Seventh Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament will begin on Monday, December 16, 2024.
In a statement issued on December 2, the Speaker said the session will start at 10:00 a.m., with the venue to be confirmed and communicated later.
This announcement complies with Order 58 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, which requires the Speaker to inform members of upcoming sessions.
The session follows Speaker Bagbin’s decision to decline a request for an emergency sitting on November 28 and 29, 2024.
The request, made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leader in Parliament, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, aimed to address 22 urgent matters, including tax exemptions for the One District, One Factory Programme, approval of the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, and key mining and legislative issues.
The Speaker, however, emphasized the proximity to the December 7 general elections as a reason for the decision.
He argued that recalling Parliament during the election campaign period could disrupt essential political activities, including candidates’ manifesto presentations and accountability efforts.
Bagbin also raised concerns about the feasibility of addressing the extensive agenda within two days, suggesting that these issues be prioritized when Parliament resumes after the elections.
Members of Parliament and stakeholders are expected to convene for the December session to address outstanding legislative matters as part of the Fourth Republic’s parliamentary calendar.
