NPP Caucus Petitions Speaker for Recall of Parliament amid Vacant Seats Controversy

ACCRA: The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Caucus has formally petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to recall the legislative body for a session, following an indefinite adjournment by the Speaker amid a controversy over vacant parliamentary seats. The petition, grounded in constitutional provisions, seeks to address urgent government business, including tax exemptions and several legislative bills. According to Ghana News Agency, the NPP Caucus's request for a parliamentary meeting comes in the wake of Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin's recent adjournment of the House, which was prompted by a dispute over vacant seats. The petition cites Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 53 of Parliament, which allow 15 percent of members of Parliament to request a session, mandating the Speaker to summon Parliament within seven days. In a memo addressed to the Speaker, NPP Caucus Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin emphasized the national significance of reconvening Parliament. The memo outlined several critical agenda items, such as government business related to tax exemptions under the One District, One Factory Programme, and the Ghana Financial Stability Fund. Legislative bills awaiting consideration include the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 2024, and the Budget Bill, 2023, among others. The request for recall comes against the backdrop of a contentious issue regarding the declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant. The Speaker's decision to declare the seats vacant affected MPs from both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), following alleged breaches of Article 97(1) of the Constitution. This ruling, however, was overturned by the Supreme Court, which directed the participation of the affected MPs in parliamentary proceedings. The struggle for majority control in Parliament between the NPP and NDC Caucuses has led to a delicate balance of power, with the NPP holding 135 MPs and the NDC 136 MPs. The recall request underscores the urgency felt by the N PP Caucus to address pressing legislative and governmental matters, highlighting the importance of parliamentary oversight and decision-making in Ghana's democratic framework. The NPP Caucus has expressed readiness to provide additional information if required and anticipates the Speaker's timely response to their petition, underscoring their commitment to fulfilling their constitutional duties.