Parliament Reacts Malicious Stories: “Where is Bagbin?”
Parliament has reacted on malicious stories in social enquiring the where about of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Albany Sumana Bagbin.
A press statement issued in Accra on Thursday, April 18, 2024 and copied to EXPRESS NEWSGHANA, indicated Parliament is on recess and such publication sought to portray the Speaker absence from the jurisdiction is ill intention.
Below is the full statement
The attention of Parliament has been drawn to a story on social media enquiring the whereabouts of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin. The stow sought to impugn that the Speaker’s absence from the jurisdiction is ill intentioned, thus portraying the Speaker and Parliament in a negative light.
Parliament is currently on recess in line with its Calendar and Standing Order 57 which provides for the suspension and adjournment ofthe House. During such times, Members and oilicials of Parliament are able to interact with their constituents and attend to other assignments, in line with their Parliamentary duties. This includes international assignments.
In consequence, the Rt Hon Speaker is currently leading a parliamentary delegation at the International Renewal Energy Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
It must be noted that, Parliament as an arm of government, is a rule-based institution and Members of Parliament are aware of the established procedures to communicate with the Rt Hon Speaker if need be. If there is a need for Members to request for a recall of Parliament during a recess, Order 53 of the Standing Orders provide that:
“15% of Members of Parliament may request a meeting of Parliament and the Speaker shall within 7 days after receipt of the request, summon Parliament.”
It is instructive to note that no such request has been made by any Member of Parliament and so, the calls for a recall of Parliament by persons outside of Parliament is frivolous and vexatious, and amounts to meddling in the work of Parliament.
In any case, per the provisions of Order 12(4) of the Standing Order, the presence of the Rt Hon Speaker and/or his Deputies are not required for Parliament to sit. Moreover, Order 52 provides for virtual Sitting so one’s physical presence is not necessarily required in today’s virtual world.
Parliament is aware of the need for collaboration and consensus building because of its hung nature and the Speaker, has sought throughout his tenure, to remain neutral and fair in his dealings. Therefore, to insinuate that the Speaker is not heeding calls for a recall because of his political allegiance to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is unfounded and unfortunate.
Parliament wishes to state that baring any emergency or unforeseen circumstance, it is likely to reconvene in the latter part of May 2024. Parliament reiterates its commitment to upholding the rule-based nature of the institution and fostering effective governance for the benefit of our nation.
DIRECTOR,
MEDIA RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
OF THE
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SUB DIVISION
2
About Author
