By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The leadership of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic has decided to fall on academia, legal and governance practitioners to review the composition and procedures of the House.
According to the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin the decision to fall on experts has arisen as a result of the recent decisions and directives of the Supreme Court and other Courts of competent jurisdiction in a number of cases that affects the way Parliament conducts affairs on the floor of the House.
Rt. Hon. Bagbin made this known during his opening remarks at the commencement of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic On Tuesday, May 24, 2022.
“You are all aware of the recent decisions and directives of the Supreme Court and other Courts of competent jurisdiction in a number of cases that affects the way we conduct affairs in this House. We may disagree with decisions but we are bound by those decisions and have to comply and obey. We have been called upon by those decisions to take action in reviewing the composition and procedures of the House. The earlier we do that the better for all of us and the country”.
“Hon Members, we definitely cannot do this alone. Other stakeholders will have to be given the opportunity to assist us to do so. Consequently, in consultation with the leadership of the House, Parliament has decided to create a platform for our partners in academia, legal and governance practitioners to lead a more focused detailed discussion on the implications and effects of the decisions on the practice and procedure of Parliament and the relationship between the Judiciary and the Legislature”. He told members
The Rt. Hon. Speaker explained that such a national discourse will provide valuable inputs to enable Parliament to revise and refine its rules, laws, and Standing Orders to comply with the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“Hon Members, as part of the agenda of this meeting and the rest of the session, Parliament will dedicate more attention to its oversight function. While we continue to put in all legal efforts and processes to consolidate the strengthening of the Institution of Parliament and the empowerment of members to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively and responsively, in this second session, we will take further vigorous steps to strengthen the hand of the House to hold government and state institutions accountable to the people for the power, trust, resources, and hope reposed in them. The executive President, assisted by the cabinet and state institutions, shall be called upon to account for the stewardship of the country.” Rt. Hon. Bagbin warned.
“Hon Members, to succeed to implement this agenda, Parliament itself must be open, transparent, and accountable to the people. As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home”. As the constitutional and legal head of the institution of Parliament, the spokesperson, the arbitrator, and guarantor of its authority, independence, and privileges, I pledge to lead this effort by example.
I will together with leadership, initiate discussions with relevant state actors to put in place measures and systems to ensure that all members and staff of Parliament comply with the declaration of assets regulations, tax obligations are honored on time and all outstanding issues of overpayment and underpayment reported on by the Auditor General, from 2001 to 2008 and 2009 to 2016 are retired and settled without any further delay, by all affected members and former members of Parliament. Sooner than later, members will be informed through the usual channels about how this will be done. A team will be put in place to liaise with state and non-state actors to smoothen the compliance and implementation of these initiatives.” He announced
Below is the full speech by Rt. Hon. A. S. K. Bagbin.
OPENING REMARKS BY RT. HON. A. S. K. BAGBIN, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, AT THE SECOND MEETING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 8TH PARLIAMENT OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC ON TUESDAY, MAY 24 2022
Hon Members of Parliament
With great pleasure and high expectations, I welcome you back from the recess of the first meeting of the second session of the 8th Parliament. You are most welcome.
Agenda of the meeting
Hon Members, you all have a fair sense of the state of security in the country and the mood of the people. I don’t need to tell you the implications on the nation and on each and every one of us.
You are also aware of the recent decisions and directives of the Supreme Court and other Courts of competent jurisdiction in a number of cases that affects the way we conduct affairs in this House. We may disagree with decisions but we are bound by those decisions and have to comply and obey. We have been called upon by those decisions to take action in reviewing the composition and procedures of the House. The earlier we do that the better for all of us and the country.
Hon Members, we definitely cannot do this alone. Other stakeholders will have to be given the opportunity to assist us to do so. Consequently, in consultation with the leadership of the House, I Parliament has decided to create a platform for our partners in academia, legal and governance practitioners to lead a more focused detailed discussion on the implications and effects of the decisions on the p0reactice and procedure of Parliament and the relationship between the Judiciary and the Legislature. Such a national discourse will provide valuable inputs to enable Parliament to revise and refine o0ur rules, laws, and Standing Orders to comply with the provisions op0f the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Hon Members, as part of the agenda of this meeting and the rest of the session, Parliament will dedicate more attention to its oversight function. While we continue to put in all legal efforts and processes to consolidate the strengthening of the Institution of Parliament and the empowerment of members to perform their duties and responsibilities effectively and responsively, in this second session, we will take further vigorous steps to strengthen the hand of the House to hold government and state institutions accountable to the people for the power, trust, resources, and hope reposed in them. The executive President, assisted by the cabinet and state institutions, shall be called upon to account for the stewardship of the country.
Hon Members, to succeed to implement this agenda, Parliament itself must be open, transparent, and accountable to the people. As the saying goes, “Charity begins at home”. As the constitutional and legal head of the institution of Parliament, the spokesperson, the arbitrator, and guarantor of its authority, independence, and privileges, I pledge to lead this effort by example.
I will together with leadership, initiate discussions with relevant state actors to put in place measures and systems to ensure that all members and staff of Par4liament comply with the declaration of assets regulations, tax obligations are honored on time, and all outstanding issues of overpayment and underpayment reported on by the Auditor General, from 2001 to 2008 and 2009 to 2016 are retired and settled without any further delay, by all affected members and former members of Parliament. Sooner than later, members will be informed through the usual channels about how this will be done. A team will be put in place to liaise with state and non-state actors to smoothen the compliance and implementation of these initiatives.
The leadership of the House, the Parliamentary Service Board, and the Speaker will continue to deepen and widen the scope of the already cordial relationship between the Judiciary and the Legislature. As arms of government, Ghanaians expect nothing from us then to see our work in harmony for the betterment of their lives and the development of the country
Hon Members, I will also take this opportunity to bring to your attention, the unfinished agenda of the first meeting of this session. There is a lot of outstanding business – private, government, and parliament – to be completed. I urge the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Members, and the Table Office, led by the Clerk, to pursue with zeal and enthusiasm the outstanding businesses for the consideration of the House.
Hon Members, in the meantime, what is still a draft legislative programme for the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the 8th Parliament are some agreements, resolutions, and a number of new bills to be introduced by the government. These include the Conduct of Public Officers’ Bill, Contracts (Amendment) Bill, the Ghana Industrial Property Bill, Intestate Succession Bill, and the Notaries Public (Amendment) Bill.
Additionally, some subsidiary legislation will be introduced. This will include the Civil Proceedings (Fees and Allowances) (Amendment) Rules, Companies Regulations, Compensation for Acquitted Persons Rules, Copyright Regulations, and the Council of State (Staff) Regulations. The others are the Ghana Industrial Designs and Regulations, Judicial Service Regulations, Legal Aid Commission Regulations, Legal Profession (Enrolment) (Amendment) Regulations, and the Plant Variety Protection Regulations. To the best of my knowledge, the Attorney-General has already communicated to Parliament through the Table Office on these Bills and Instruments.
However, there are other bills that require urgent attention during this meeting. These include the Affirmative Action Bill, which is yet to be presented to Parliament, the Aged Persons Bill, the Auto Industry Development Council Bill, the National Sugar Industry Development Board Bill, and the Ghana Roads Fund (Amendment) Bill.
Given the anti-corruption drive of this House, it is important that we consider laying the Conduct of Public Officers Bill as early as possible.
Hon Members, I urge Committees to comply with the provisions of the Standing Orders and report to the House the reason for the delay in submitting a number of reports on referrals pending before them. Committees such as Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, Privileges, Subsidiary Legislation, and some sector Committees, Land and Forestry, etc, are breaching the rules. The Standing Orders Committee may be compelled to take action against such Committees.
Hon Members, the Budget Bill, Rent Bill, the Ghana Road Authority Bill as well as the Local Road Authority Bill have all been on the back burner for far too long. I call on the sponsoring agencies to take the necessary steps to present these Bills for scrutiny and possible passage by Parliament during this meeting.
Hon Members, I call on the Business Committee, as well as the leadership of the caucuses, to be dialogue more often, using the well-known usual channels of communication in the conduct of the business of the House. We must eschew excessive partisanship, demonstrate concern for the plight of the ordinary citizen and chart the path that will help ameliorate the pain and suffering of Ghanaians.
With these few remarks, I, once more, welcome you all to the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
May God grant us peace, wisdom, and love for the common good.
I thank you for your attention.
