Parliament is set to reconvene today, Monday, December 16, 2024, at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), for its first sitting since the December 7 general elections.
An official circular from the Speaker’s Office, issued on December 11, confirmed the choice of the AICC as the venue for this pivotal meeting. This session is expected to mark the beginning of a new era in Ghana’s political landscape, following a significant shift in parliamentary composition.
The December 7 elections delivered a resounding victory to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which secured a parliamentary majority, overturning the balance of power. Several prominent Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lost their seats, including Ursula Owusu-Ekulful, Henry Quartey, KT Hammond, and Andy Appiah-Kubi.
This dramatic change extends beyond Parliament, as the NDC’s John Dramani Mahama defeated the NPP’s Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to win the presidential race, solidifying the opposition’s commanding position in both the legislature and the executive.
Prior to the elections, the Majority Caucus, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had persistently called on Speaker Alban Bagbin to reconvene Parliament for urgent legislative discussions.
However, the Speaker stood firm, arguing that parliamentary business should be postponed until after the elections to maintain focus and avoid any undue influence.
