By Clement Akoloh
Parliament has been recalled from recess for five days, with President Mahama’s recent Cabinet reshuffle expected to feature prominently when the House reconvenes later this month.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has summoned the House to sit from Monday, August 24 to Friday, August 28, 2026, to consider what he describes as “urgent Parliamentary Business.”
The recall comes barely three weeks after Parliament adjourned on July 31, with the House originally expected to resume in October.
The Speaker’s decision to bring Members back from recess has therefore generated considerable interest, particularly because it coincides with President John Dramani Mahama’s recent reshuffle of his ministerial team.
A communication from the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced the nomination of the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, as a Minister, alongside other ministerial nominations and the reassignment of existing ministers to new portfolios.
The Presidential communication on the nominations is expected to be presented to Parliament when the House resumes and referred to the Appointments Committee for the nominees to undergo parliamentary vetting.
Following the vetting process, the Committee is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the plenary, where Parliament will ultimately determine whether to approve or disapprove the nominations.
The nomination of the Majority Leader, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, is particularly significant for Parliament, as his potential departure from the Majority leadership would have implications for the composition and leadership of the Majority Caucus.
The expected parliamentary processing of the Presidential nominations could therefore provide one of the clearest reasons for the unusual recall of the House during recess.
Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill among unfinished business
Beyond the ministerial nominations, Parliament also rose on July 31 with several matters yet to be concluded.
One of the most closely watched is the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
The Bill had remained among the unfinished businesses of the House, including a proposed second consideration.
There is therefore strong speculation that the legislation could return to the floor during the five-day recalled sitting as well as the Constitution of Ghana Amendment Bill, although the precise agenda will only become clear when Parliament’s Business Statement for the period is presented.
The possible combination of the ministerial vetting process, potential changes to Majority leadership and outstanding legislative business could make the August 24–28 sitting particularly consequential.
The Speaker’s recall statement, issued on August 12, 2026, invokes his authority under Order 58(4) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana to recall the House during recess.
For now, the official statement does not identify the specific urgent business that necessitated the recall. However, the timing of the decision, coming shortly after the President’s Cabinet reshuffle and with significant unfinished business before Parliament, has fuelled expectations of a packed parliamentary agenda when the House returns.
The formal Business Statement for the recalled sitting is expected to provide clarity on the matters Parliament will consider between August 24 and 28.
Source: parliamentnews360.com
