Parliament is set to reconvene today, Monday, December 16, at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre.
In a statement issued on December 11, Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin announced the venue, stating: “Pursuant to the notice dated 2nd December 2024 summoning Parliament, I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, do hereby appoint the Grand Arena, Accra International Conference Centre, as the place of the meeting.”
The recall follows Ghana’s 2024 general elections, which saw a significant shift in parliamentary representation. Several New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament lost their seats. Confirmed results indicate that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) now holds a majority in the House with over 180 seats won. The NPP holds less than 80 seats, a significant drop from 136 they currently hold.
This session comes after Speaker Bagbin previously declined a request from Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to recall Parliament on November 28 and 29, citing the absence of a prepared agenda from the Business Committee. Bagbin had stated that parliamentary activities would remain suspended until after the December 7 elections.
Notably, on Tuesday, November 12, the Supreme Court overturned Speaker Bagbin’s decision to declare four parliamentary seats vacant, a move challenged by Afenyo-Markin. The Court ruled that a parliamentary seat could only be declared vacant if an MP switches political parties while retaining their seat in Parliament.
In the detailed judgment released on November 14, five justices upheld this position, emphasizing that the Speaker’s decision could not take effect during the current parliamentary term. However, two dissenting justices argued that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to determine the matter, reflecting a division in judicial interpretation.
Today’s session will mark a critical moment for the newly constituted Parliament, as it prepares to address pressing issues in the wake of Ghana’s elections.
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