Vacant seats saga: NPP, NDC parliamentary caucuses disagree over recall

The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has formally requested Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to recall Parliament for an emergency session on November 28 and 29, 2024.

This, he said, would address pressing government business left unattended after the November 7 session was adjourned without any deliberation.

In a memo to the Speaker, Afenyo-Markin emphasised the urgency of several key issues, including tax exemptions under the One-District, One-Factory program, a $250 million International Development Association facility for the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, and the consideration of the President’s nominees for the Supreme Court.

He also highlighted the need to ratify mining lease agreements involving Ashanti Bauxite Company Limited and Barari DV Ghana Limited for bauxite and lithium projects in the Ashanti and Central Regions, respectively.

The Majority Leader also listed several bills for consideration, including the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, the Social Protection Bill, the Customs (Amendment) Bill, and others related to tertiary education, budgetary issues, and institutional reforms.

He underscored that these were high-priority items requiring immediate attention to advance the government’s agenda.

Afenyo-Markin invoked Orders 57(3) and 58(4) of the Standing Orders, which allow the Speaker to summon Parliament outside scheduled sittings or in cases of emergencies without the usual 14-day notice.

He argued that a recall at this critical time would reflect Parliament’s commitment to its constitutional duties and national interests, even amid the electoral season.

“This recall would send a powerful message of national unity and institutional stability,” Afenyo-Markin stated, adding that it would demonstrate Parliament’s ability to rise above partisanship to serve the public effectively.

He proposed that the recall would not disrupt MPs’ ongoing campaign activities for the December 7 general elections, as members could return to their constituencies over the weekend. Afenyo-Markin further reminded the Speaker that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Article 97(1)(g) and (h) had cleared the path for Parliament to focus on its legislative responsibilities without distraction.

Meanwhile, the NDC Caucus in Parliament has urged Speaker Alban Bagbin to decline a request from the NPP Caucus for the recall of Parliament to consider what they have described as urgent government business.

In another memo to the Speaker, the NDC MPs, who continue to affirm their majority status, argued that the petitioners had failed to meet the constitutional and procedural requirements under Article 112(3) and Order 53(1) of Parliament’s Standing Orders, which mandate the signatures of at least 15% of MPs to trigger such a recall.

The caucus also contended that the request lacked urgency, especially with only 11 days remaining before the critical December 7 general elections.

“This election is not only a destiny-defining moment for Ghana but a career-defining one for many MPs,” the memo stated.

The NDC highlighted the logistical and practical challenges of the proposed recall, scheduled for November 28 and 29, noting that MPs would be forced to interrupt their constituency engagements, including campaign activities and preparations for election day.

They described the timing as “ill-fated and ill-timed,” adding, “Such a situation is most unfair and will disadvantage many members of Parliament.”

The memo also accused the NPP caucus of repeatedly calling for urgent recalls in 2024, only to abandon listed business during previous sittings.

They cited a recent incident on November 7, where the NPP failed to mobilise enough members to transact business, leading to an indefinite adjournment by the Speaker.

The NDC caucus emphasised that Parliament has until January 6, 2025, to address any pending matters and suggested reconvening after the elections to tackle government business.

They described the recall as unnecessary and a potential waste of taxpayer money. “At this stage, we must prioritise credible, peaceful, and fair elections over anything that could disturb the peace and stability of our democracy,” they urged.

The caucus proposed a leadership meeting after the elections to resolve the current stalemate and determine a suitable date for Parliament to reconvene.