The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has responded to a petition from the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, requesting an urgent recall of the House to deliberate on pressing government business under Article 112 (3) of the 1992 Constitution.

The request aimed to address urgent matters, but the Speaker noted these issues did not meet the constitutional threshold for a recall.

Here are some highlights of the speaker's response

Adjournment justification:

Speaker Bagbin defended the decision to adjourn Parliament sine die on July 30, 2024, highlighting that it was based on the Parliamentary Calendar and agreed upon by leadership.

He dismissed accusations of prioritizing international travel over parliamentary business.

"I have been accused of prioritising international travel over parliamentary business and of unilaterally deciding to adjourn the House on July 30, 2024. These accusations are unfounded and are made in bad faith," he said.

Unfounded accusations:

The Speaker refuted claims that he unilaterally decided to adjourn Parliament and emphasized that the decision was made with full involvement and prior communication with parliamentary leadership.

"The decision to adjourn the House Sine Representatives on July 30, 2024, was not made in isolation. This date was informed by the Parliamentary Calendar of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament, which calls on Parliament to adjourn at the end of the month of July. This guide was discussed on several occasions at pre-sitting meetings of the Speaker and Leaders and agreed to weeks before July 30, 2024. As the official reports, voice, and video recordings of the proceedings of the House will clearly demonstrate, I consistently communicated to the House the agreed adjournment date throughout the meeting. The adjournment was neither sudden nor unilateral in this regard, as evidenced by the contents of the official reports of July 6th, 11th, 25th, and 26th, 2024," he added.

Logistical challenges:

Due to ongoing renovation work in the Parliamentary Chamber and the poor state of the Accra International Conference Centre, the Speaker cited significant logistical challenges in finding a suitable venue for Parliament to meet promptly.

"Again, at the beginning of the year, the Leadership of the House and the Parliamentary Service Board decided that the chamber be retrofitted in preparation for the 9th Parliament. The urgency of addressing structural defects and replacing the audio and video equipment cannot be overstated, as many have witnessed the failure of the equipment and some parts of the structure of the chamber in recent times, which has in some instances led to the abrupt suspension of sittings or adjournment.

"If Parliament does not undertake this work now, it will face significant challenges in finishing the necessary preparations before the transition to the 9th Parliament. The Chamber of Parliament is being retrofitted and upgraded and is unavailable for use by Parliament now.

Constitutional Interpretation:

The Speaker underscored the importance of interpreting Article 112(3) and Order 53 in a practical manner, considering the intent behind the provisions and the logistical realities, rather than a strict literal approach.

"It is important to note that the request for the recall is based on Article 112(3) and not 113. It is not a recall on the basis of an emergency. The reasons stated in the request are misconceived and are meant to throw dust into the eyes of the unsuspecting public.

Summoning Parliament:

Despite the practical challenges, Speaker Bagbin assured compliance with the constitutional requirement by summoning Parliament to meet on September 3, 2024. The exact venue will be communicated once it is available.

"To address these practical concerns and to allow sufficient time for preparations, as I intimated several times to the House before the adjournment sine die, I summon Parliament to meet on Tuesday, 3rd of September 2024, at a place and venue to be communicated as soon as one becomes available. Order 53 cannot therefore be fully complied with," he concluded.

NAY/OGB

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