Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has explained the reasons for the five-day emergency sitting of Parliament, saying the House was recalled to deal with urgent government business ahead of its scheduled October sitting.
The Speaker said President John Dramani Mahama wrote to him on August 11, 2026, requesting the recall of Parliament to consider matters that could not wait until the planned October sitting.
Welcoming Members of Parliament back to the House on Monday, August 24, Mr Bagbin said the emergency sitting, which ends on August 28, would focus on a limited number of issues outlined in the President’s request.
These include the consideration and passage of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Amendment Bill, 2026.
Parliament is also expected to consider the nominations of Mahama Ayariga as Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings as Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology.
The House will further consider the nominations of three persons to the Supreme Court — Justices Sophia Rosetta Bernasko, Edward Amoako Asante and Anthony Forson Junior.
Mr Bagbin also used the sitting to clarify the status of the Majority Leader following President Mahama’s nomination of Mr Ayariga as a minister.
He said Mr Ayariga continues to occupy the position of Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament until the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) formally communicates any changes to the House.
The clarification comes amid the nomination of Builsa North MP James Agalga as Acting Majority Leader.
Mr Bagbin said Parliament could only recognise changes to the leadership of the House after receiving formal communication from the NDC.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin also addressed the House briefly as they welcomed MPs back from their constituencies for the emergency sitting.
The five-day sitting is restricted to the matters for which President Mahama requested the recall, with the Speaker indicating that other business will not be admitted.
