Speaker of parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has said that he cannot recall parliament because of the upcoming December 7 Presidential and Parliament elections.

The Speaker’s statement follows a recent request made by the majority caucus of parliament for the Speaker to recall members over some emergency and outstanding government businesses. According to the memo presented to the speaker on Friday, 22nd November, 2024, the majority had called on the speaker to exercise his discretional powers, [pursuant to standing Orders 57(3) and 58(4), to summon the House to suit for two days, that is, Thursday, 28th November and Friday, 29th November, 2024 to consider about twenty-two (22) items.

In his response, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin stated that the performance of the functions of Parliament and duties of the Members of parliament goes beyond the plenary sittings of parliament.

He added that, the parliamentary calendar takes into consideration the calendar for the campaign periods in the build to elections hence, the date proposed by the majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, will not be favourable for the convergence.

“Bearing in mind the provisions of Article 296 (a) and (b) of the constitution, 1992, and the closeness of your proposed dates to the general elections, I am, of the considered opinion that it would not be in the national interest to interrupt the campaigns of members and parties by a recall to plenary sitting of Parliament. Consequently, it will not be fair to exercise my discretion in favour of your request to summon members of Parliament at this time to a two-day sitting to deliberate on twenty-two you consider urgent or outstanding government business,” Speaker Bagbin said.

Earlier, the minority caucus had written to the speaker stating that, he is not under any obligation to summon the House to transact any government business.

According to the minority, the petitioner, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has not demonstrated that the items he had enumerated in his petition warrant the attention he demands of Parliament.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, minority leader, therefore, advised the speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to ignore the request, stating that the minority will not be available for any plenary sitting should the speaker effect the recall.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com