The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has once again adjourned sittings indefinitely.It followed the absence of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus from the meeting and the absence of business to deliberate on.
It will be recalled that the Speaker indefinitely adjourned the House on October 22, 2024, following the absence of the NPP side over a controversy about the majority side of the House following the declaration of four seats vacant.
At the time, the Speaker said though there was a quorum to transact business, it lacked the same to make decisions.
Last week a notice sanctioned by the Speaker announced a recall of the House following two requests from the NPP Deputy Leader.
Addressing Parliament on November 7, Rt Hon Bagbin said, “This meeting is a response to a request for a recall first dated 22nd October 2024 and the second one dated 24th October 2024 both pursuant to Article 112(3) of the Constitution and Order 53 for the Standing Orders of Parliament.”
He said the recall was for urgent government business of 22 items.
“Unfortunately, the signatories for the request have not shown up and therefore matters they wanted us to handle which are admitted for the consideration of the Business Committee are not on the Order Paper. In fact, there is no Order Paper today because the Business Committee could not meet due to the absence of the people who requested the recall.”
He also indicated that the House had “no business to transact”.
He explained that the Business Committee prepares a report which needs to be adopted by the House for the course of the week.
He thereby communicated the decision to indefinitely adjourn the House stating that it wouldn’t be appropriate to be daily adjourning sittings when there is no business.
“In view of the failure of the Business Committee to sit as a result of the refusal of those requested, we are compelled to once again adjourn the sitting of the House…We adjourn the meeting indefinitely.