Majority Caucus invokes constitutional provision to reconvene Parliament …for critical legislative business
The Majority Caucus of Ghana’s Parliament has initiated steps to invoke Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53(2) of the new Standing Orders of Parliament to compel Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to reconvene the House due to unfinished legislative business.
“We are exercising our legal rights in good faith for the benefit of our democracy. The law supports our decision to compel the Speaker to reconvene the House,” stated Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during a press conference on Friday, May 3, 2024, flanked by members of the Majority Caucus.
Article 112(3) of the Constitution allows fifteen per cent of the Members of Parliament to request a meeting, obliging the Speaker to summon Parliament within seven days of receiving the request. Order 53(1)(2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament reflects this constitutional provision.
Efforts by the Majority Caucus to persuade the Speaker to use his discretionary powers to reconvene the House had previously been unsuccessful. “As early as April 8, 2024, I sent a memo on behalf of my colleagues, urging Mr. Speaker to utilize his discretionary powers under Orders 58 and 59,” Afenyo-Markin shared.
Following the official invocation of Article 112(3) through a memo, Speaker Bagbin is required to recall Parliament from recess within seven days. Although only 41 Members of Parliament are needed to meet the 15% requirement, Afenyo-Markin noted that over 100 members from the majority side supported the memo.
The Speaker has until Tuesday, May 14, 2024, to act on this request.
The call for reconvening Parliament revolves around three urgent legislative items that were pending on the Order Paper as of March 22, 2024 but were not addressed due to the House’s adjournment sine die. These items include the approval of the 34th Report of the Appointments Committee on presidential appointments, a motion for additional financing for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project worth $150 million, and tax exemption requests for beneficiaries under the One District One Factory (1D1F) program.
Regarding the president’s nominations, Afenyo-Markin stated, “The House had reached a consensus on the Appointments Committee’s report, and we were only left with the voting process.”
He also mentioned the $150 million GARID project, noting that while the Finance Committee had completed its review and the House had passed the motion, the Works and Housing Committee had suggested amendments. “The Speaker had referred the issue back to the committee for further review. All that remains is for the House to approve the final report so the government can access these critical funds,” he added.
As for the tax exemptions linked to the 1D1F initiative, the Majority Leader emphasized their importance for stimulating private sector growth and employment. “These exemptions are not mere giveaways; they are vital for enhancing productivity and financial liquidity, enabling businesses to expand and hire,” he explained.
He concluded by referencing past governmental concerns about tax revenue utilization, underscoring the shift towards empowering the private sector as a strategic move to bolster economic development.
By Eugene Davis
