Alban S. K. Bagbin
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin, has designated the Dome at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) as the venue for the emergency parliamentary meeting scheduled for September 3, 2024.
The decision comes as the Chamber of Parliament is currently undergoing renovation works, making it unavailable for the meeting.
The emergency meeting was called by the Speaker following a request by the Majority Caucus, which invoked Article 112 of Ghana’s Constitution and Standing Order 53, which empowers at least 15% of Members of Parliament (MPs) to request a meeting of Parliament.
The meeting is expected to address pressing matters of national importance, including a financing agreement with the International Development Association, tax exemptions for beneficiaries under the 1D1F programme, and several bills, including the Budget Bill, 2023, and the Environmental Protection Bill, 2024.
The Majority Caucus justified the request, emphasising the pressing importance of these matters and the need for Parliament to fulfil its constitutional mandate and serve the interests of the Ghanaian people.
The AICC Dome has previously hosted several high-profile events, including international conferences and meetings.
The Speaker’s decision to choose the AICC Dome as the venue for the emergency meeting is seen as a practical solution to ensure that the meeting takes place without any disruptions.
Earlier Rejection
Earlier on, Speaker Bagbin, rejected the request for an emergency meeting by the Majority Caucus, citing logistical challenges and a lack of urgency in the matters presented.
In a statement released on August 7, 2024, Mr. Bagbin explained that the request did not meet the threshold set by Article 112 of the Constitution and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
“It is worth noting, however, that while the Constitution provides that ‘the Speaker shall, within seven days after the receipt of the request, summon Parliament’, it is the Standing Orders which provides that Parliament shall convene within seven days after the issuance of the notice of summon,” Mr. Bagbin noted.
He argued that the same Standing Orders empower the Speaker to interpret the Standing Orders in consonance with the Constitution.
“In this instance, the Constitution doesn’t prescribe the date for the meeting of the House after the issuance of the notice of summons.
“It is my considered view that in interpreting the Orders, the Speaker must consider the context and practical realities of the situation. This approach aligns with the modern approach for interpreting statutes, which emphasises understanding the purpose and practical implications of the law,” he intimated.
Speaker Bagbin again contended that the matters outlined in the request, including the $250 million International Development Agency (IDA) financing agreement, were already under consideration by Parliament before the adjournment.
The Speaker assured the public of his commitment to his oath of office and to discharging his duties faithfully and conscientiously.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliamentary Correspondent