THE Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, has directed that Parliament reconvenes for emergency sittings from Monday, April 29 to Friday, May 3, 2019 to undertake some ‘urgent’ Parliamentary businesses.
A statement signed by Parliament’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo, in Accra on Wednesday, said the recall was for the House to finish work on some bills under consideration before the House recessed earlier in April.
“The recall is occasioned by a need for the House to consider some very important parliamentary businesses including the completion of work on and passing of the Companies Bill among others,” the statement stated.
The recall is in accordance with Parliament’s Standing Order 42(3) which confers on the Speaker the authority to recall the House from recess if need be.
“Mr Speaker may, if he thinks fit, call a sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been adjourned, or at any time after the house has been adjourned sine die,” the Order reads.
The statement entreated all Members of Parliament to attend to expedite action on those businesses.
A related statement, signed by Ms Addo, meanwhile, announced that the deadline for the Stakeholders Conference on Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill 2019, which was scheduled for Wednesday April 24, 2019, has been suspended indefinitely.
The decision, according to the statement was to allow for much broader consultation and diverse input from the general public, adding that a new date for the conference would be communicated later.
The deadline for the submission of Memoranda on the Bill has been extended to May 13, 2019.
“Any inconvenience caused as a result of this suspension is deeply regretted,” the statement stated.
The Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, 2019, seeking to legislate against political vigilantism, was laid before the House under a certificate of urgency before the House adjourned sine die on April 12.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
