Prior to the general election of 2024, Speaker of the House Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to continue their legislative responsibilities.
He explained that it made sense that the demands of campaigning would conflict with their personal time and attention.
To guarantee that important bills, discussions, and decisions before the House received their full attention, Mr. Bagbin said it was also imperative that MPs strike a balance between these requests and their legislative duties.
When he opened the House for the opening session of the fifth meeting of the fourth session of Parliament on Tuesday, he made the announcement after a lengthy recess.
“I must remind us all that while the electoral season is upon us, our mandate as MPs has not yet expired, the duties and responsibilities we owe to this House and the people of Ghana continue until the very last day of this parliamentary session.
“The businesses before us remain of paramount importance and we must make the necessary time to ensure that we do not neglect our parliamentary duties,” Mr Bagbin said.
The decisions and discussions the House would make at the meeting would be the final of this Parliament and would have a significant impact on the future of the nation, he said, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the House.
Mr. Bagbin asked the Members of Parliament to hold fast to their commitment to serving the people with all of their might and soul.
“Let me remind you of the urgent and substantial work load that lays ahead, the business of the house is far from complete and the legislative priorities before us demand nothing short of our outmost dedication, focus and swift action,” the Speaker stated.
He mentioned that a number of important bills that affected the nation’s governance, stability, and economic development were being considered at different levels.
The Constitution Amendment Bill, the Environmental Protection Bill, the Parliamentary Service Bill, the International Business and Economy Transaction Bill, the Budget Bill, and the Parliamentary Transition Bill were among these bills, according to Mr. Bagbin.
The Speaker emphasized that the Parliamentary Transition Bill was crucial to improving the procedure for the orderly transition of power in Parliament.
“This bill addresses gaps in the current framework to guarantee smoother transitions between administrations ensuring stability and continuity in parliament,” he explained.
Furthermore, Mr. Bagbin emphasized that as the budget was the foundation of economic management and planning, the Budget Bill, which was presently in the second reading stage, needed to be processed immediately.
He pointed out that any delays in the Budget Bill’s passing will have a significant impact on both the public and private sectors, ultimately affecting Ghanaians’ standard of living.
Mr. Bagbin urged all House Committees with pending referrals to move quickly to finish their reviews and deliver their reports in order to guarantee a seamless and effective legislative process.
He praised each member of the legislature on their commitment, tenacity, and hard work over the course of their term.
“Together we have navigated through several challenges ranging from global pandemics, conflicts, wars, uncertainties and economic challenges of our country” the speaker said.
Source: newsthemegh.com