Parliamentary Impasse : NDC Minority opposes recall bid
A heated debate is unfolding in Ghana's Parliament, as the National Democratic Congress'(NDC) Minority Caucus has called on Speaker Alban Bagbin to dismiss a request from the Majority Caucus to recall the House.
The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, initiated the request through a memo dated November 22, 2024, seeking to reconvene Parliament on November 28 and 29.
However, the Minority Caucus, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has countered this move, arguing that the recall request lacks legitimacy and procedural compliance. Ato Forson emphasized that the recall does not meet the required threshold under Article 112 (3) of the Constitution and Order 53(1) of the Standing Orders, which necessitate signatures from 15% of Parliament members to trigger a recall.
In his memo, Dr. Forson also expressed concerns about the timing and necessity of the proposed recall, labelling it as "ill-fated and ill-timed."
He argued that granting the request would disrupt important engagements between Parliament members and their constituents, while also posing logistical challenges for members commuting from distant constituencies.
"Respectfully, Mr. Speaker, we wish to submit that based on the petitioner's own request, you are not obliged to recall Parliament."
"Further, the petitioner has not demonstrated that there is any emergency nor urgent government business to warrant a recall of Parliament, with barely eleven (11) remaining days to the crucial 2024 General Election," parts of the memo read.
Find the Memo from Dr. Ato Forson in the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12th7I5m9XSWux6ygpyrm9xvL1cz8z0g0/view?usp=sharing
Source: Lead News Online
