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The Office of the Speaker of Parliament has initiated steps to reconvene the House in early November after a petition from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus urged the Speaker to address critical matters. Speaker Alban Bagbin disclosed this decision during a meeting with a five-member Council of State delegation led by Chairman Nana Otuo Siriboe II, who visited to understand recent events leading to Parliament’s indefinite adjournment.
The Council of State expressed readiness to assist in resolving ongoing challenges within the legislature, particularly regarding Speaker Bagbin’s recent declaration of four parliamentary seats as vacant, a move contested by the NPP caucus. The declaration prompted a shift in caucus strength, with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) claiming majority status due to two NPP-affiliated members running as independents and a legal challenge surrounding parliamentary composition.
The Speaker is scheduled to attend the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International Conference in Australia but will return sooner than planned to oversee Parliament’s reopening. Speaker Bagbin’s decision to adjourn Parliament followed a Supreme Court directive to halt his vacant seat declaration until a final ruling, expected on November 11.
The Council of State commended Speaker Bagbin’s efforts in maintaining democratic principles and his leadership roles in organizations like the CPA, while encouraging him to continue working in Ghana’s best interests.
