The Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) will host the next meeting of Ghana’s Parliament today, Monday, December 16, 2024.
This marks its first sitting since the pivotal December 7 general elections that significantly altered the country’s political landscape.
The session comes after the Speaker’s Office confirmed the meeting location in an official circular dated December 11, 2024.
Speaker Alban Bagbin had already called for Members of Parliament (MPs) to return to their duties in a notice dated December 2, 2024, stating that this sitting was crucial given recent political events.
Ghana’s parliamentary dynamics underwent a significant change after the elections on December 7, when the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) won a majority in parliament.
Several well-known members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including Andy Appiah-Kubi, Henry Quartey, K.T. Hammond, and Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, lost their seats as a result of the election results.
The balance of power in Parliament has been drastically altered by this shift, giving the NDC more influence over legislative decisions.
John Dramani Mahama defeated Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP to retake the presidency, demonstrating the NDC’s win in the presidential contest.
The Majority Caucus, headed by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had pushed Speaker Bagbin to summon a meeting of Parliament to discuss urgent legislative issues prior to the elections.
These requests were turned down by the Speaker, who insisted that parliamentary operations be put on hold until after the elections.
Some MPs argued over the decision’s timing and possible effects on governance, which sparked controversy.
Critical post-election issues, such as the handover to the new administration and talks on the next government’s legislative goals, are anticipated to be the main topics of today’s meeting.
