By Iddi Yire
Accra, Nov 07, GNA – Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on Thursday, November 7, adjourn Parliament indefinitely.
This, the Speaker attributed to lack of business for the House to transact and the absence of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in the Chamber.
The meeting was a response to a request for a recall by the NPP Caucus, the first request was dated 22nd of October, and the second one dated 24th of October 2024, both pursuant to Article 1123 of the Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Speaker Bagbin said: “And as you can see, one side of the House is completely empty. In view of this, we have, as usual, got a quorum to sit, but we have no business before us to transact, because the Business Committee, as you know, they prepare a report and this report is adopted by the House as business agreed by the House to transact during the course of the week.”
“In the absence of that, there is no other authority that can put business before you, which you have not adopted to transact.
“In view of the failure of the Business Committee to sit as a result of the refusal of those who requested for the recall to show up, we are compelled to once again adjourn the sitting of the House.
“Knowing the challenges we are facing, it is not advisable to be adjourning from day to day, and so I will proceed once more to adjourn the meeting indefinitely and the meeting, this extraordinary meeting, is accordingly adjourned.”
The disagreement between the NPP Parliamentary Caucus and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Caucus, follows a statement by Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Leader of the NDC Caucus, on a matter he considered to be of urgent public importance on the 15th of October, and comments thereof by other members, as permitted by the Standing Orders of Parliament.
The Speaker communicated the findings of his enquiry into the matter, as the Speaker of the House, on the 17th of October, the contents of which had been construed to be a ruling.
Mr. Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Leader of NPP Caucus, disagreed vehemently with the contents of his communication as the Speaker of Parliament and proceeded to advance an earlier action he had commenced in the Supreme Court on the 15th of October, to prevent the Speaker of Parliament from receiving and making any pronouncement in the subject matter of the statement made by Dr Forson, until the final determination of that matter by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has stayed the Speaker’s ruling and fixed November 11, for its ruling on the matter.
The affected members whose seats were declared vacant by the Speaker on October 17 include Mr. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, the Second Deputy Speaker, and independent MP for the Fomena; Madam Cynthia, NPP MP for Agona West; Mr. Kwadjo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum, and Mr. Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah, NDC Member for Amenfi Central.
GNA