The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on Monday explained to the members of Parliament (MPs) the reasons for recalling the House to consider urgent matters of state within the next five day.
He said the recall followed a request by President John Dramani Mahama for Parliament to consider the appointments of ministerial nominees, Justices of the Supreme Court, the nomination of acting Majority Leader and urgent public bills
He said per the President’s request in a letter dated August 11, 2026, the President drew his attention to three matters of state which, in his assessment, were very urgent and required the consideration of Parliament.
He named the nominations for appointment as Mahama Ayariga (MP) as the Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs designate and Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings (MP) as the Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology.
He referred the two nominees to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report.
He also read a letter from the President dated August 7, 2026, the reassignment of Minister-designate for Defence, Kenneth Agyei; Minister-designate for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim (MP).
“I also wish to inform Parliament that following consultation with leadership of the National Democratic Congress, James Agalga (MP) has been designated acting Majority Leader nominated,” he quoted the President’s letter as saying.
SC Justices nominees
Mr Bagbin also said he received a communication, dated August 21, 2026, from the President about the nominations for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.
Per the letter, he said the names of the three nominees were submitted to the Judicial Council for consideration.
He named them as Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, a Court of Appeal Justice and former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; Anthony Forson Jr, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
By a letter dated August 20, 2026, the Council of State informed the President that having duly considered the nominations, they found the nominees “qualified and suitable” to serve as Justices of the Supreme Court and accordingly recommended their appointments.
He also referred the nominees to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report to the House within the next five days of the recall.
Urgent bill
Besides, the Speaker said the President requested the House to consider the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (Amendment) Bill
Consideration
The Speaker said on receipt of the request, he carefully considered the matters placed before him and the reasons advanced for their urgent consideration.
He said the authority conferred on the Speaker under Order 58-4 of the Standard Orders of Parliament necessarily involved the exercise of judgement and discretion.
A request for recall of the House during adjournment did not, merely by its presentation, automatically result in a recall, he said.
“The Speaker must be satisfied, having regard to the circumstances and the nature of the business proposed to be transacted, that the situation warrants the exceptional step of requiring Parliament to reconvene before the expiration of its adjournment.
“In the exercise of that discretion, I was satisfied that the items presented by His Excellency the President were of sufficient urgency and importance to warrant the invocation of Order 58-4 and the recall of the House,” he said.
Significance of requests
Mr Bagbin pointed out of the members of particular significance in my consideration was the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (Amendment) Bill.
He said the brief from the President on the subject matter of the bill had important implications for the urgent regulation, stability and functioning of the financial sector of Ghana’s economy.
“I was therefore satisfied that a matter of this character, having regard to the urgency represented and its potential implications for the financial sector and the economy, warranted the attention of Parliament without waiting for the ordinary resumption of the House scheduled for the middle of October 2026,” he said.
He, therefore, urged members of the House to limit the business of the House to what had been specifically requested by the President.
“In other words, Mr Speaker is not willing and not ready to admit any other business because those are normal businesses to be transacted during normal sittings, not a recall sitting.
“I will urge you during this emergency recall to demonstrate the highest standards of parliamentary conduct, firmness of conviction without needless acrimony, disagreement without disrespect and vigorous truth without obstruction,” he said.
