Speaker Bagbin says Majority side is draining national resources with emergency parliament recalls
Following the recall of Parliament to deal with pertinent government businesses which constitutionally mandated the Speaker to heed to the call, the Speaker, Alban Bagbin in his opening remarks when the House convened on Tuesday expressed concerns over what he said was the abuse of the invocation of Article 112 (3).
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His reason was that the frequent invocation of Article 112 (3) to recall Parliament within a session of the current Parliament could disrupt planned legislative annual budget and workflow, drain national resources, and affect the overall productivity of Parliament and therefore described it as an "abuse".
He, therefore, urged the members of the House to, at the appropriate time, deliberate on the matter to establish when it would be appropriate to resort to the use of Article 112 (3).
“Article 112 should not become a tool to keep Parliament in perpetual or continuous session, thereby preventing Parliament and members from performing the other constitutional functions and duties to the country and constituencies,” he said.
Among other things, the recall was initiated by the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin under Article 112(3) of the Constitution, to address pressing state matters, including two significant $250 million loan agreements, one for the energy sector and another for the Ghana Stability Fund along with proposed tax exemptions.
The emergency session, scheduled for September 3 and 4, was called despite Speaker Bagbin's earlier indication that a mid-September sitting would have been more appropriate.
"While I acknowledged the need to complete some unfinished business, I had suggested a recall in mid-September under Article 112(3). To instead reconvene Parliament immediately after recess is, to say the least, unfortunate and in bad faith," Bagbin stated.
Defending the decision, Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin argued that the recall was necessary to address urgent national issues.
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"Mr. Speaker, the request was made in good faith, aimed at enabling this House to tackle some critical assignments," Mr Markin said.
Meanwhile, the Minority, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson opposed the proposed tax exemptions, urging for their conversion into tax credits or linking them to equity shares, as provided by the Tax Exemptions Act.
"The NDC Minority stands firm in its position. These tax exemptions are not in the best interest of Ghanaians," Dr. Forson said.
