Accra, Ghana — The Ghanaian Parliament has concluded its emergency session without fully addressing the core issues that prompted the recall, just weeks after the House had adjourned for recess at the end of July.
Despite high expectations, the two-day sitting on September 3rd and 4th, 2024, saw only one of the three major agenda items successfully concluded.
The session was convened under Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament and Article 112 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, following a request by 15% of Members of Parliament (MPs), which compelled the Speaker to recall the House.
The Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, led the charge by the Majority Caucus for the recall, highlighting three critical matters that demanded immediate attention including: the reconsideration of the Committee Report on the $250 million Financing Agreement for the Ghana Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP), which had been rejected before the recess; the consideration of tax waivers for companies under the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative and; the review of the Appointment Committee’s report on the vetting of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nominees for the Supreme Court.
The session, which took place at the Dome of the International Conference Centre due to ongoing renovations in the Parliamentary Chamber, ended with only one of these issues resolved.
Parliament approved the $250 million Financing Agreement for the ESRP after reversing its previous decision on the matter, which had been disapproved on July 30th, 2024.
However, the other two critical agenda items were deferred, including the tax waivers for 1D1F companies and the Appointment Committee’s report on Supreme Court nominees. MPs cited a lack of proper consultations and consensus as reasons for the postponement, leaving the objectives of the emergency session largely unmet.
This outcome has sparked concerns over the effectiveness of the recall, as many expected the House to address all the pressing issues at hand. The session’s adjournment without resolving these matters now raises questions about the way forward for Parliament in handling such urgent affairs.
The Speaker is yet to announce when these deferred matters will be revisited.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
