Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has explained that the five-day emergency recall of Parliament was triggered by a request from President John Dramani Mahama to consider three urgent matters.
Addressing the House as it reconvened on Monday, August 24, 2026, Bagbin said the President’s request came less than a month after Parliament adjourned sine die on July 31.
“Honourable Members, during the period of adjournment, I received a request from His Excellency the President of the Republic for the recall of Parliament. In that request, His Excellency drew my attention to three matters of state which, in his assessment, are very urgent and require the consideration of Parliament,” he said.
The Speaker noted that the previous adjournment had allowed Members of Parliament to return to their constituencies, undertake parliamentary assignments and attend to other commitments outside the chamber.
He said Parliament had also completed a substantial amount of legislative, financial, oversight and other parliamentary business before rising.
According to Bagbin, the President identified three matters requiring urgent parliamentary attention.
These are the consideration of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Amendment Bill, two nominations for appointment as Ministers of State, and three nominations for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court.
“Upon receipt of the request, I carefully considered the matters placed before me and the reasons advanced for their urgent consideration,” Bagbin told the House.
He added that the full request submitted by the President would be read to Members for consideration.
Parliament has been recalled from August 24 to August 28, 2026, under Order 58(4) of the Standing Orders to deal with the urgent business outlined by the President.
