By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, Sept. 3, GNA- Mr Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, expressed his displeasure on Tuesday with the decision to recall Parliament the day after recess.
He thus referred to it as an “act in bad faith.”
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader under Article 112(3) of the Constitution, petitioned the Speaker to call an emergency session to discuss important state business the day after Tuesday, July 30.
Despite the Speaker’s reservations, he admitted three critical items for consideration during the two-day emergency session that began on Tuesday, September 3.
The purpose of the extraordinary meeting was to discuss a $250 million loan agreement for the energy sector, another $250 million loan agreement for the Ghana Stability Fund, and tax exemptions.
In his address to the Members of Parliament, Mr Bagbin stated, “Despite the efforts of the House, some businesses could not be completed and I indicated to the House my ‘no’ objection to the House being recalled sitting in mid-September under Article 1123. To exercise this option immediately a day after the agenda, is, to say the least, unfortunate and in bad faith.”
However, the Majority Leader, Mr Afenyo-Markin, disagreed with the Speaker’s assertions during his remarks.
He said: “Mr Speaker the request as I made in a humble prayer was to enable this House to undertake some urgent assignment. I humbly submit, Rt Hon Speaker, that the application was well grounded in good faith despite the disagreement.”
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, for his part, reiterated the Minority’s opposition to tax exemptions, arguing that they should be converted to tax credits or linked to equity shares, as required by the tax exemptions Act.
“Mr Speaker, the NDC minority has not changed our position on these tax exemptions, [they] are not in the best interest of Ghanaians.
“Our position has always been and still remains that they should convert these tax exemptions into tax credits and otherwise may link this tax exemption into equity shares as stipulated in the tax exemptions Act,” Dr Forson said.
GNA