Ghana’s Parliament has rejected accusations that Speaker Alban Bagbin is intentionally delaying the recall of Members of Parliament (MPs) due to his political alignment.
A statement issued on Thursday, April 18, 2024, by the Parliamentary Service clarified that the House is presently in recess, with MPs engaging with constituents, while Bagbin is on a mission in Dubai.
The statement stressed that no MP has formally requested an early recall. Parliament described efforts by external parties to push for a recall as “frivolous and vexatious,” and deemed it an unwarranted interference in parliamentary matters.
“It is instructive to note that no such request has been made by any Member of Parliament and so, the calls for a recall of Parliament by persons outside of Parliament is frivolous and vexatious, and amounts to meddling in the work of Parliament.”
Parliament recognized the need for collaboration and consensus-building given its balanced nature. It dismissed as “unfounded” any insinuations that the Speaker’s reluctance to heed calls for a recall is due to his political affiliation with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“Parliament is aware of the need for collaboration and consensus building because of its hung nature and the Speaker, has sought throughout his tenure, to remain neutral and fair in his dealings. Therefore, to insinuate that the Speaker is not heeding calls for a recall because of his political allegiance to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is unfounded and unfortunate.
“Parliament wishes to state that baring any emergency or unforeseen circumstance, it is likely to reconvene in the latter part of May 2024.”
