Speaker recalls Parliament to sit on December 16

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has announced the recall of house to convene on Monday, December 16, 2024, at 10 am.

The session will be held at a venue to be announced by the Speaker in due course.

“Pursuant to Order 58 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament Of Ghana, I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker Of Parliament, hereby give notice that, the seventh meeting of the Fourth Session Of The Eighth Parliament Of The Fourth Republic shall commence on Monday, the 16th day of December, 2024 at ten o’clock in the forenoon at a place to be appointed by the Speaker in due course,” a communique signed by the Speaker on December 2 noted.

This recall, issued pursuant to Order 58 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, underscores the urgency of addressing critical national issues before the year concludes.

The recall comes just seven days after Speaker Bagbin declined a request by the Majority in Parliament to reconvene the House earlier.

In his memo to the Majority on November 26, Bagbin explained that Parliament would resume after the general elections to complete essential matters and ensure a seamless transition to the ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

He also emphasized the importance of decorum in parliamentary proceedings and urged MPs to prioritize the national interest.

The Speaker’s earlier refusal to recall Parliament was supported by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus, which argued that the recall request from NPP MPs was unnecessary and ill-timed.

However, with the December 16 recall, Speaker Bagbin has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring critical national matters are addressed efficiently before the new Parliament is inaugurated.