Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, opened the Second Meeting of the Ninth Parliament, welcoming members and acknowledging the productive recess where committees engaged in vital oversight visits and capacity building.
He particularly highlighted the Human Rights Committee’s visit to Nsawam Prison and the Local Government Committee’s assessment of recycling plants, emphasizing these efforts as exemplary demonstrations of members’ dedication and Parliament’s commitment to high standards of governance and service delivery.
Speaker Bagbin reminded the House that a full and intense schedule lies ahead until late July or early August, urging timely and strategic programming of business by leadership to avoid wasting public resources. He detailed key items on the draft agenda, including the Ghana Cocoa Board (Amendment) Bill, three Private Members’ Bills (Property Rights of Spouses, Constitution Amendment, and Human Sexual Rights and Family Values), and the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Regulations.
The Speaker also noted pending reports from various committees and ad hoc committees, including investigations into the Appointments Committee’s disorder and a pension scheme for MPs, alongside the Ada Songor Lagoon Salt Mining report. He underscored that committee chairpersons have a mandatory constitutional duty to ensure meetings, deliberations, and timely report submissions, strictly adhering to Article 106 (14) regarding public bills.
“Hon members, we resume today with a full schedule ahead. The term runs till the end of July or on exceptional circumstances, end of the first week of August. That is not a long haul. But it is long enough to make meaningful progress if we approach our work with seriousness. I call on the leadership of the House to ensure that the programming of business is timely, strategic, and consistent. Time is a public resource. We must not waste it.” He highlighted. “
“Let me take the opportunity to highlight a few of the items listed in the Draft Agenda for this Meeting:
We have one bill at Committee, the Ghana Cocoa Board (Amendment) Bill, 2025;
Three Private Members’ Bills, the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, 2025, Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, have completed the processes as required by the Standing Orders and are expected to be presented for First Reading during the course of this Meeting;
We also expect to lay for consideration of the House, the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Regulations, 2025.”
Addressing past misconduct, Speaker Bagbin bluntly condemned instances of disorder that disgraced the House, asserting that such behavior is unbecoming and must not be repeated. He firmly stated that parliamentary rules and laws are not discretionary and exist to safeguard order, free speech, and fairness. He warned that Deputy Speakers and he would be stricter in enforcing standing orders, disallowing disorder, absenteeism, or procedural shortcuts.
He also strongly urged both new and veteran members to prioritize committee work, highlighting its foundational importance to legislative effectiveness, oversight, and the real work of Parliament, which often occurs away from the spotlight.
Speaker Bagbin finally addressed the sensitive issue of increased communications from law enforcement regarding members’ conduct. He made it clear that parliamentary privilege does not equate to immunity from lawful inquiry or a license to disregard the law. While committed to upholding constitutional protections.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
