The Institute of Progressive Governance, (IPG) has expressed worry about Speaker Bagbin’s adjournment of Parliament sine die following the brouhaha surrounding his announcement to the effect that some four MPs must vacate their seats for expressing interest in contesting the 2024 parliamentary elections on different tickets.

In a statement issued to the press on Wednesday, 23rd October 2024, IPG indicated that the suspension of Parliament by the Speaker will affect the fight against illegal mining in the country.

It further noted that Organized Labour nearly went on strike but for the quick intervention of the government and the measures it agreed to bring on board to deal with illegal mining.

“This indefinite suspension of parliamentary business by the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament has adverse effects on the fight against illegal mining and mining in forests. We can recall that Organized Labour made the decision during an emergency meeting held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, where union leaders assessed the situation and agreed to call off the industrial action”, the statement noted.

“The decision was taken following assurances from the government to tackle illegal mining. Organised Labour noted that the government had taken considerable steps, including ramping up the Operational Halt initiative, led by the Ghana Armed Forces, to combat illegal mining activities in forest reserves. Key out of all the measures based on which Organised Labour had agreed to suspend the nationwide strike was the revocation of the mining in forest reserves Regulation of 2023 (L.I. 2642)”, IPG further indicated.

According to the think tank, President Akufo-Addo gave directives as a result of the agreement he had with Organized Labour, specifically on repealing the law that allows mining to take place in forests, for the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to submit a memorandum for the revocation of the Regulation to Parliament when it reconvened on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

“Parliament reconvened as stated, and all eyes were on the Legislature to take steps to repeal the regulation that allows mining to be done in forest areas, only for the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, to adjourn the House sine die”, it said.

“IPG is of the firm belief that this decision by the Speaker of Parliament has the potential to hurt this well-intentioned move by the government to have L.I 2642 revoked, thereby preventing mining to be done in forest areas. It appears that the clarion calls for illegal mining to be halted were not genuine looking at how the Speaker did not spare time on the matter in contention so as to reduce to the barest minimum, if not annihilated completely, the ravaging of our water bodies and devastating and depleting of our forests”, it noted further.

“IPG calls on all well-meaning Ghanaians, including organized labour and other worker groups, to, as a matter of urgency, reconvene Parliament to relook at that provision that allows mining to be done in forest areas” the statement concluded.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Thursday, 16th of October announced to Parliament that Cynthia Mamle Morrison of Agona West, Kwadwo Boafo of Suhum, Peter Kwakye-Ackah of Amenfi Central and Andres Asiamah Amoako of Fomena had vacated their seats following their decisions to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections on tickets other than the ones they came to Parliament with.

The Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin sought solace in the arms of the Supreme Court for interpretation of the articles that the Speaker used to oust his colleagues from Parliament. The apex court of the land had subsequently ruled to have the announcement of the Speaker stayed or suspended pending the final determination of the matter.