Amid a dispute over vacant seats, Speaker of the House Alban Bagbin has indefinitely adjourned, leaving a number of important parliamentary tasks in suspense.
This decision comes following a conflict in which members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) left the House of Representatives, leaving the National Democratic Congress (NDC) with the majority.
Following a dispute with the opposition, who had seized their seats after asserting that they were the majority, the members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had previously left their seats.
Six major businesses impacted by the adjournment are listed below:
1. Budget approval: The approval of the 2025 budget is key among the pending government businesses.
2. The revoking of L.I. on mining in forest reserves was a key condition given by organised labour as part of the conditions to rescind its planned strike action.
3. Approval of $250 million Ghana Financial Stability Fund.
4. Approval of $250 million Ghana Energy Sector loan
5. Approval of $350 million worth of tax waivers
6. Approval of 2 Supreme Court nominees.
Alban Bagbin admitted to the House that they did not have enough people to make choices, but they did have enough to do business.
The Speaker formally expressed his stance moving forward after taking into account Madina MP Francis Xavier-Sosu’s request for a correction of the record from Thursday.
Additionally, he stated that he has been served with a court process in his capacity as Speaker about the declaration on four Members of Parliament.
“We don’t have at least half of all members of parliament present. Consequently, in view of the current circumstances, the fact that there’s a question on the composition and constitution of Parliament, and having regard to public interest and the exigencies of the state of affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to, in accordance with Standing Orders 59, adjourn the House indefinitely.”
Source: myjoyonline.com