Parliament is set to consider 69 bills, 125 papers and 16 public motions as it reconvenes from recess.
Aside that, it is also expected to embark on a number of activities such as lectures, public discussions, roundtable discussions and other fora in commemoration of its 30th anniversary to promote Ghana’s Parliamentary democracy.
“The second meeting promises to be an activity parked one. Before we went on recess, I informed you of a number if activities…”, Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin made this known in his welcome address to Members of Parliament in the house yesterday.
He was welcoming members who had been recess for close to two months to the Second Meeting of the Third Session of the Eight Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
He thus beseeched members to brace themselves for the task ahead.
Key activities for the second meeting
Speaker Bagbin noted that in order to promote parliamentary democracy in Ghana, Parliament would embark on a number of activities such as public lectures and discussions, debate as well as fora in various part of the country and around the world.
CPA conference in Ghana
He also noted yesterday that Parliament will also host the 66th Commonwealth Parliament Association (CPA) conference which is scheduled to take place from September 30 – October 6.
Swearing in of Kumawu MP
Prior to the reading of the welcome address and the commencement of business in the house yesterday, Speaker Bagbin swore in the new MP for the Kumawu constitutuency, Mr Ernest Yaw Anim who replaces the former MP for Kumawu, Mr Philip Basoah, who kicked the bucket after some short illness.
Speaker Bagbin administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance to Mr Anim who has since assumed his role in parliament as a new MP.
Mr Anim, representing the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), emerged victorious in the recently held by-election in Kumawu.
He garnered an impressive 15,264 votes, outperforming his competitors Kwasi Amankwaa from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and two Independent Candidates, both named Kwaku Duah.
Mr Amankwaa secured 3,723 votes, while Kwaku Duah (1) received 2,478 votes. The other Kwaku Duah managed to pull only 62 votes.
Acting on Supreme Court’s judgement on Gyakye Quayson
Meanwhile Speaker Bagbin has tasked the House to decide on a procedure to expunge the name of the deposed MP for Assin North, Mr James Gyakye Quayson, from the records of Parliament as directed by the Supreme Court (SC) in May 17.
The SC directed parliament to expunge the name of Mr Quayson from its records after ruling that the election and swearing of the now deposed MP was unconstitutional and in contravension with article 94(2)(a) of the constitution, 1992.
Addressing the House yesterday, Mr Bagbin said that the practice of expunging a member’s name from its records is novel.
He noted neither the constitution or the Standing Orders of Parliament provided procedure for doing so hence his call on MPs to decide on a procedure.
