By Edzorna Francis Mensah
The Majority caucus in Parliament in accordance with Article 112(3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992, and Standing Order 53 of the Parliament of Ghana, has formally demanded an extraordinary session of Parliament to consider matters of national importance Two Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars (US$250,000,000) from the World Bank.
The majority in the memo dated 31st July, 2024 on “extraordinary session “relying on the constitutional and statutory provisions in the exercise of their rights as Members of Parliament, has urged The Speaker to summon Parliament for an extraordinary session within the stipulated seven-day period by assuring the Speaker that, “we stand ready to provide any additional information or clarification that may be required and look forward to your favourable consideration of this request. Counting on your usual cooperation, Sir”.
To ensure clarity and emphasize the legal foundation of their request, cited Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution, Standing Order 53(1), Standing Order 53(2), further stipulates and Standing Order $7(3) which says “The Speaker may summon a sitting of the House before the date or time to which the House has been adjourned or at any date or time after the House has been adjourned sine die” as well as Order 58(4), states: “The Speaker shall summon Parliament within a period determined by the Speaker and the requirement for a fourteen-day notice shall not apply where there is an emergency.”
Urgent Matters for Consideration as reiterated in the memo include a Motion on the Financing Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the International Development Association for an amount of Two Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars (US$250,000,000) for the Ghana Energy Sector Recovery Programme, Request for Tax Exemptions for designated beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme and Ghana Financial Stability Fund, an International Development Association facility of Two Hundred and Fifty Million United States Dollars (US$250,000,000) among others.
They also added some Bills like Budget Bill 2023, Rent Bill 2023, University of Local Governance and Development Bill 2024, Environmental Protection Bill 2024, Social Protection Bill 2024, Intestate Succession Bill 2022, Chartered Institute of Reconstruction and Insolvency Practitioners Bill 2023, Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill 2024 and National Petroleum Authority Bill 2024 as matters be considered.
Parliament was adjourned sine die on Tuesday, 30 July 2024, at which time the aforementioned items had been duly advertised and scheduled for consideration and then, the urgency of these matters necessitates their reconvening to fulfil their constitutional mandate and serve the interests of the Ghanaian people.
“We wish to emphasize that this requisition is made in the utmost good faith and in the national interest, to enable the Government to discharge its constitutional and democratic obligations to the people of Ghana. The matters outlined herein are of pressing importance and require the urgent attention of Parliament”, the memo added.