NPP Caucus petitions Speaker to recall Parliament within 7-day period

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Parliament has requested the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to summon Parliament to consider urgent government business.

They said the considering constitutional and statutory provisions of article 112 (3) of the Constitution and the Standing Order 58, the Speaker must summon the House to a meeting within a seven-day period.

That, they believed, would enable the government to discharge its constitutional and democratic obligations to the people of Ghana. 

The petition has so far garnered about 80 signatories who are all members of the NPP Caucus.

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.” 

Also, Standing Order 53(1), reiterates: “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 after the request, summon Parliament." 

In addition, Standing Order 53(2), further stipulates: “Parliament shall convene within seven days after the issuance of the notice of summons.”

Urgent matters for consideration

The petition, which was issued yesterday (October 22) and addressed to the Speaker, the Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip of the NPP Caucus, Habib Iddrisu, said “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. 

The petitioners urged the Speaker to recall of the House since there were urgent government business to be deliberated on and transacted.

They mentioned the request for tax exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One-District-One-Factory programme, the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, an International Development Association facility of $250 million and bills.

The bills included the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 2024, 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.

Context and justification

Providing a justification for a recall, the petitioners recalled that Speaker adjourned Parliament sine die on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 without any explanation to the circumstance leading to the adjournment.

“You may also recall that at conclave, you confirmed the service of a Supreme Court Order which was explicit. 

“At the time, the above stated items had been advertised and scheduled to be carried,” they said.

They emphasised that the request was 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,” they added.

Indefinite adjournment 

Government business in Parliament took a hit yesterday as Parliament adjourned indefinitely yesterday.

This followed the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin’s, acknowledgement of the legal proceedings surrounding the composition of the House and the attendant public interest over the declaration of the seats of four Members of Parliament (MPs) vacant.

With the Supreme Court order appearing to restrain his hands on the matter that had evoked drama in the nation’s political space in the past week, the Speaker adjourned proceedings less than 15 minutes after he had assumed his chair in the chamber.

“In view of the current circumstances, the fact that there is a question on the composition and constitution of Parliament and having regard to the public interest and the exigencies of the state of affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to, in accordance with Standing Orders 59(1), adjourn the House indefinitely, i.e., sine die,” he said in the brief address to the members.

Numbers game

The Speaker said the House had a quorum to transact business but did not have the numbers to take decisions in line with Article 102 of the Constitution and Order 64(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.

“Article 104 (1) states except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, matters in Parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority members present and voting with at least half of all the members of Parliament present. Honourable members, we do not have at least half of all the members of Parliament present,” he said.

“Consequently, in view of the current circumstances, the fact that there is a question on the composition and the constitution of the Parliament and having regard to the public interest and exigencies of the state of affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to, in accordance with the Standing Orders 59, adjourn the House indefinitely sine die,” he added.

The Speaker cited Standing Order 59(1) which allowed him to suspend a meeting of the House in consultation with the leadership.
Order 59 (1) states: "The Speaker may, in consultation with leadership, suspend a meeting of the House indefinitely or for a period determined by the Speaker, having regard to public interest and the exigencies of the state of affairs in the country”.

“Honourable members, I have consulted leadership and I am exercising my discretion to decide to suspend the meeting of the House indefinitely,” the Speaker said.

Meanwhile, attempts by this paper to reach the leadership of the NDC Caucus for a reaction on the recall proved unsuccessful.