Politics of Friday, 17 August 2012

Source: GNA

Parliament to be recalled from recess September 3

The Business Committee of Parliament recommended on Thursday that members consider a recalling of Parliament for emergency sitting at an appropriate time, preferably between September 3, and 27, 2012.

Mr. Cletus Apul Avoka, Majority Leader, said this when he read the business statement for the week-ending Friday, 19 October 2012.

He said members were already aware of a number of Instruments currently before the House and this had imposed constitutional obligations on Parliament, thus the need for a recall to enable the House discharge the said obligations.

Mr. Avoka also said the committee further commended that the third meeting commenced on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 and be adjourned on Friday, November 2, 2012.

The House is expected to reconvene on Monday, December 17, 2012, after the general election, to wind up on its mandate before dissolution.

He said during the third meeting of Parliament, five ministers would be expected to appear before the house to answer questions.

They are the ministers of education, interior, health, local government and rural development, and Food and Agriculture.

Bills may be presented for first reading, and those of urgent nature will be taken through various stages in one day, in accordance with Order 119, whiles Papers and Committee reports may also be presented to the House.

Motions may also be debated and their consequential resolutions, if any, taken during the week.

Mr. Avoka noted that any unfinished business at the end of the meeting on Thursday August 16, 2012 would be carried over to the subsequent sittings of the House, adding that the committee would, however, take advantage of the recess period to deliberate on their outstanding referrals.

He expressed appreciation to members for the high sense of duty and dedication exhibited during the meeting with the hope that members would return from the recess fully renewed to discharge their respective roles as representatives of the people.

The Speaker, Mrs. Justice Joyce Bamford Addo, suspended the House at 12 noon for an hour to put some finishing touches to some issues before it reconvened at 13:00 hours to adjourn at 14:00 hours Thursday.