Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has adjourned the House indefinitely following a half-side representation on Thursday, November 7.
Parliamentary sitting was adjourned sine die after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament failed to show up after recalling the House less than a month after the House adjourned sitting on October 22.
Speaker Alban Bagbin directed members of Parliament to end recess and reconvene at the Accra International Conference Centre after a petition filed by the New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament in accordance with Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, underscoring the necessity of reconvening to tackle pressing national matters that demand immediate action.
During Thursday’s sitting, the Speaker explained that the House could not sit for business as the Business Committee chaired by NPP Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, could not sit to have a business that would be deliberated.
“As you know, they prepare report and this report adopted by the House as business agreed by the House to transact during the course of the week. In the absence of that, there is no other authority that can put government before you which you have not adopted to transact. In view of the failure of the Business Committee to sit, as a result of the refusal of those who requested for the recall to show up, we are compelled to once again adjourn the sitting of the House,” the Speaker said.
He advised that “knowing the challenges we are facing, it is not advisable to be adjourning from day to day.” On the matter, the Leader of the National Democratic Congress, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has accused the NPP MPs of causing financial loss to the state.
NPP MP and Trade Minister Kobina Tahir Hammond, on his part, registered his displeasure over the NDC MPs occupying the Majority side of Parliament despite the Supreme Court ruling that bars the Speaker from declaring some four seats occupied by held by Cynthia Morrison (Agona West), Kojo Asante (Suhum), Andrew Asiamah (Fomena), and Peter Kwakye Ackah (Amenfi Central) vacant.
He also announced that his side will cite the Speaker of Parliament for contempt of the court.
Vacant seat case
The Speaker’s vacant seat ruling, based on his interpretation of Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution, was contested by the NPP, particularly by the leader of the NPP Members of Parliament Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Afenyo-Markin argued that Speaker Bagbin had overstepped his constitutional authority by declaring the seats vacant without judicial oversight, prompting him to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.
In response to the challenge, the Supreme Court issued an interim injunction halting the Speaker’s decision until further judicial review. Speaker Bagbin has filed an application with the Supreme Court to reinstate his declaration of the seats as vacant, arguing that parliamentary decisions fall outside the jurisdiction of the judiciary. However, the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, dismissed Bagbin’s motion.
Speaker Bagbin reacts to Judiciary intervention
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has voiced his frustration over what he sees as an increasing tendency among legislators to seek Supreme Court intervention on matters that should be handled within Parliament itself.
At a press conference on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Bagbin expressed concern that this reliance on the judiciary is eroding the authority and respect of the legislative body.
“The courts are replete with debates and proceedings of Parliament. Most worrying is, these proceedings are initiated by some Members of Parliament, even leaders of Parliament who are to know better. Parliamentarians who are supposed to be loyal to Parliament and not the Supreme Court run to the Supreme Court at the slightest opportunity to use the Supreme Court to undermine Parliament. This might be one of the reasons Parliament and Members of Parliament are not respected and treated with disdain,” he said.
Outstanding government business
Several key parliamentary businesses such as the approval of two Supreme Court Judge nominees appointed by President Akufo-Addo and tax waivers over $350 million, are in limbo.
Additionally, pending bills before Parliament include the Architects Registration Bill 2024, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Vaccines Development and Manufacturing Bill 2024, and the Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2024.
Parliament concluded consideration of the Environmental Protection Agency Bill 2024 on October 16, during the 5th meeting of the 4th session of the 8th Parliament.