By Iddi Yire
Accra, Nov 01, GNA – Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has summoned Parliament to sit on Thursday, November 7, at 1000 hours at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The Speaker’s notice to summon Parliament is in line with Article 1123 of the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament pursuant to Article 112 (3) and Orders 5 and 53 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
The New Patriotic Party Caucus of the House petitioned the Speaker to reconvene the meeting to consider urgent matters before it.
On Tuesday, October 22, Speaker Bagbin announced the indefinite suspension of the Parliamentary proceedings over the partisan dispute resulting from his declaration of four seats vacant.
The declaration, on October 17, led to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) side claiming that they had become the Majority caucus because two of the seats belong to New Patriotic Party members, who are running as independent candidates in the December 7 Election, with a third belonging to an independent candidate who is contesting on the NPP’s ticket. The fourth belongs to the NDC side.
The affected members are: Andrew Asiamah Amoako, the Second Deputy Speaker, and MP for the Fomena constituency, who is in Parliament as an independent member, Madam Cynthia, NPP Member for Agona West, Mr Kwadjo Asante, NPP Member for Suhum, and NDC Member for Amenfi Central, Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah.
In adjourning proceedings, Speaker Bagbin told the House that he had received a communication from the Supreme Court, which directed him to stay his earlier ruling that declared four parliamentary seats vacant.
The Speaker said although they had the numbers to transact business, the House did not have the numbers to make decisions.
“Hon. members, we don’t have at least half of all the 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 the public interest, and the exigencies of the affairs in Parliament, I will proceed to in accordance with standing order 59 adjourn the house indefinitely, that is sine die.
“Hon. members, I have consulted leadership and I’m exercising my discretion to decide to suspend the meeting of the house indefinitely – the House is accordingly.”
Before the declaration of the seats as vacant, the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin had filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to prevent the Speaker from making any ruling on the four seats, following a motion submitted by the Minority to declare those seats vacant.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 30, refused the Speaker’s request to the apex court to overturn its decision to him to suspend the declaration of the vacant seat decision in view of the Afenyo-Markin application before it.
It, subsequently, fixed November 11 for its judgement on the substantive application filed by Mr Afenyo-Markin.
GNA