The first meeting of the fourth session of the eighth Parliament of the Republic of Ghana commenced yesterday, Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
During this session, the House has 82 indicative bills on the agenda of parliament. Already, there are 16 bills before the House under consideration: eight private and eight public, including affirmative action and the promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian values bills.
The House also has a total of 720 referrals for government business, which are at various committee levels.
It is instructive to note that this session will not last up to a year, as the 8th Parliament will be dissolved on the eve of January 6, 2025 and the 9th Parliament will be inaugurated at midnight the following day.
The Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, said in a welcome statement that it was going to be a busy meeting, considering the agenda and the time left.
He, however, urged members to give their all to the work of the House.
MPs Lose Primaries
He bemoaned the vacuum that would be created in the next parliament as most of the experienced MPs lost in their party primaries. He said it was not a good signal to the democracy of the nation, citing experience, which he noted counted in the House.
Though he acknowledged that the endorsement by the political parties for one to contest was important, he also said the negative effect on the House was dire.
Speaker Bagbin, who served as a Member of Parliament from January 7 1993 to January 6 2021, called on political parties to look into that issue.
At the end of the various parliamentary primaries, 17 and 28 incumbents lost their seats in the NDC and NPP primaries respectively and obviously there will be casualties where some sitting MPs will fall during the general elections on December 7, 2024.
His concern was the investment the nation makes in the MPs only for them to be booted out at the end of the four years, saying that it was worrying.
OTHER ISSUES
He touched on several issues, including the primaries of the major political parties, the famous Guinness World Record challenges and the recent participation of the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars, at the ongoing African Cup of Nations.
The Speaker told the playing body and its management that they “represent more than just a national team” and thus must endeavour to rise from the ashes and demonstrate to the world their strength.
However, he said that the sacking of coaches was not a panacea to the current issue, but a comprehensive strategy to develop football in Ghana. He advocated an investment in the holistic development of the sports and culture of the country.
He added that Parliament would be glad to work with stakeholders to ensure that football was revived in the country.
MINORITY LEADER
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, commenced his address by congratulating colleagues who retained their mandate as parliamentary candidates and sympathised with those who failed.
He then launched an attack on the Electoral Commission, with a clear message that his side does not support any of the electoral reforms introduced by the EC.
In his address, the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson raised concerns about the EC’s announcement not to use indelible ink during the 2024 general election, a move he said, posed danger to the security of the state.
In his view, the use of the indelible ink does no harm to a free and fair election and only adds to the credibility of the process, adding that when the biometric device fails, the indelible ink helps to identify those who have already voted.
He also announced that the NDC minority would not support a change of the date for the 2024 general elections. The EC has indicated plans to move the election date to November 7, instead of December 7.
MAJORITY LEADER
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the leader of government business, outlined activities for the meeting, including the various bills to be considered, mentioning the Regions of Ghana Bill and the Vaccines Development Bill, among others.
The Majority Leader informed the House that the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would be received in the House on February 27, 2024 to deliver his last State of the Nation address.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu told the Minority Leader that his threat over the change of election date was “an act of futility.”
He explained that the EC could not implement the decision until Parliament amended the constitution, so there was no need for the minority to panic.
He drew the House’s attention to the election in Tain in 2008, where there were barely two days until the swearing-in.
According to him, by the dictates of the constitution, presidential elections could be held from October 7 to December 7, but parliamentary elections are to be held only a month before the end of a current parliament.
He agreed that if it could not happen this year, the EC should be supported to prepare for the next elections.
