The inaugural meeting of the Ninth Parliament has been rescheduled until Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
This suspension will allow President John Dramani Mahama’s new ministry nominees to be vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament before being approved or rejected by the plenary.
During the suspension period, a four-day orientation program for incoming legislators will be held to familiarize them with the House’s rules and procedures.
As of Thursday, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, had received and forwarded three cabinet names to the Appointments Committee for consideration.
This came after the Presidency sent a letter to the Speaker outlining the first batch of government nominations.
The nominees are Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Majority Leader and MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, as Minister-designate for Finance; John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister-designate for Energy; and Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice-designate.
Justifying the need for the House, which began sitting on January 8, 2025, to adjourn for 12 days, the Majority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, told the House, presided over by the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, that some names had been released the day before and referred to the Appointments Committee.
“The President occasionally communicates with the House, and in some cases, steps are taken. When Parliament is properly formed, the Speaker reads a communication to the House.
“We agreed that it would please the House if, when further communication comes to Mr. Speaker’s attention that requires referral, he can go ahead and make those referrals, and when we return on Tuesday, Mr. Speaker can bring them to the attention of the House,” added the chairman.
Minority MP Patrick Yaw Boamah supported Mr. Agbodza’s rationale, saying the House would expect the President to submit a supplementary list of his candidates.
“We know that the list has kept many of my colleagues in the Chamber, and I believe that once the list is presented to Mr. Speaker, we will go over the motions. I will indulge Mr. Speaker and President, and the list will be routed through the Appointments Committee, as previously said.
“Just keep your nerves calm. “We will work on the list once it is submitted,” he assured.