A GNA Feature By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, Aug. 13, GNA – The Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament of Ghana ended on Friday, July 31, 2026, with the House adjourning sine die after 37 sittings marked by legislative activity, extensive oversight and debate on the state of the economy.
During the Meeting, Parliament passed 12 Bills, considered major loan and other agreements, and debated the Mid-Year Review of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
When the House reconvened from the Easter break on Thursday, May 21, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker, welcomed Members back to the Chamber and urged them to participate fully in the legislative and oversight responsibilities of Parliament.
The Meeting closed with similar calls for diligence from Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, and Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader.
Legislation: From Defence to Family Values
Seventeen Bills, including four Private Members’ Bills, were introduced during the Meeting, with 12 passed before the House adjourned.
Among the most politically contentious was the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
Its passage addressed a concern raised at the beginning of the Meeting by Madam Patricia Appiagyei, the Deputy Minority Leader, who, speaking on behalf of Mr Afenyo-Markin, questioned why the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Majority had not advanced the Bill earlier.
She also cautioned against the continued use of Certificates of Urgency to expedite legislation, noting that about 33 Bills had been fast-tracked during the First Meeting.
Other major legislation passed included the National Defence University, Ghana Bill, 2026, which provides for the establishment of a dedicated defence university; the Community Service Bill, 2026, which expands non-custodial sentencing options; the Maritime and Related Offences Bill, 2026, aimed at strengthening Ghana’s maritime security framework; and the Tribunals Bill, 2026, which seeks to restructure tribunal operations.
Parliament also passed the Income Tax (Amendment), Value Added Tax (Amendment) and Excise Bills, 2026, as well as the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, 2025; Customs Bill, 2026; Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026; and Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Ten Bills remained pending at various committee stages, including the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2026; Economic and Organised Crime Office Bill, 2026; and Minerals and Mining Bill, 2026.
Economy and Oversight
The economic highlight of the Meeting was the Mid-Year Review of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, presented by Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minister of Finance, on Thursday, July 23.
The ensuing debate, held from Tuesday, July 28, to Thursday, July 30, gave MPs an opportunity to scrutinise government expenditure, revenue projections and the broader economic outlook.
Parliament also processed 173 parliamentary questions, comprising 168 oral and five urgent questions, although six were subsequently withdrawn.
In addition, MPs adopted 11 Business Statements, one for each sitting week, and made 48 statements on national issues, several of which were referred to committees for further consideration.
The House approved the 2026 distribution formula for the Road Maintenance Trust Fund and adopted resolutions covering three Credit Facility Agreements, 12 Bilateral Agreements, three Power Purchase Agreements, six Mining Leases and a Public-Private Partnership Concession Agreement, among others.
New Regulations
Seven Legislative Instruments came into force during the Meeting. Five had been pending, while two were newly presented.
They included the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026; National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026; Social Protection Regulations, 2026; and Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Regulations, 2026.
The rest were the National Health Insurance (Procedure for Exemption) Regulations, 2026; Education Regulatory Bodies (NCCA) Regulations, 2026; and Prisons Service (Parole) Regulations, 2026.
Another 18 Instruments remained pending, including eight regulations under the Ghana Geological Survey Authority and seven under the Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
Looking Ahead
In his closing remarks, Speaker Bagbin commended MPs for their commitment to the work of the House.
A final communiqué issued by Parliament’s Media Relations Department said the Meeting demonstrated the continued commitment of the House to fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
The stage is set for the Third Meeting, expected to have a substantial workload, with 340 Audit Committee Reports, 26 Auditor-General’s Reports and several government policies still before various parliamentary committees.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Elsie Appiah-Osei
Email: [email protected]