A Photo of a Section of the NPP Group Led by Afenyo-Markin
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament is pushing once again for the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to urgently reconvene Parliament for the third time in four months following the indefinite adjournment of Parliament on November 7, 2024.
The petition, led by NPP Caucus leader Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, calls for immediate action on several pressing government matters. These include tax exemptions under the One District, One Factory Programme, ratification of a multi-million-dollar financial stability fund, and the President’s nominations for Supreme Court Justices.
This latest request follows similar petitions made after previous adjournments. The first recall occurred in August 2024 after Parliament’s suspension in July, and the second in October 2024. The NPP MPs had called for urgent sessions in both instances, but their failure to attend the sessions led to mixed reactions. The most recent adjournment saw the NPP Caucus fail to appear for a meeting they had initiated, disappointing Speaker Bagbin, who expressed frustration over the lack of an agenda and committee input.
The call for the third recall follows a chaotic scene earlier this month when NPP lawmakers failed to show up for a scheduled sitting. The meeting, which they had requested, was left without a prepared agenda from the Business Committee, prompting Speaker Bagbin to suspend proceedings. He emphasized that parliamentary business cannot proceed without the necessary committee work and clear plans for discussion.
Despite this setback, the NPP Caucus remains resolute. In a letter dated November 22, signed by Afenyo-Markin, they formally petitioned Speaker Bagbin to reconvene Parliament on Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29, 2024. The letter calls for the Speaker to exercise his constitutional powers under Standing Orders 57(3) and 58(4) to bring Parliament back into session to resolve urgent government matters.
Among the critical issues awaiting attention are the approval of a $250 million International Development Association (IDA) facility for the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, and the ratification of mining lease agreements for bauxite and lithium projects in the Ashanti and Central regions.
“These are high-priority matters for the government,” Afenyo-Markin emphasized in his letter. He further argued that reconvening Parliament would send a strong message of national unity and institutional stability, especially as the country nears the peak of the electoral season.
However, the petition has already sparked tensions. Members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have expressed their reluctance to return to the House. Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi, and Edwin Nii Lante Vandapuye have both signalled their unwillingness to participate in any recall sessions, particularly after their absence from the last suspended meeting.
Adding to the growing tension, NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has instructed his party members to refrain from attending any potential recall session, further deepening the political divide.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are now on the NDC, whose response will be crucial in determining the future of this parliamentary standoff. The country eagerly awaits to see if the NPP’s call for a return to parliamentary business will be heeded, or whether the widening rift between the two major political parties will continue to impede progress on critical national issues.
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