The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has clarified that the decision to adjourn the House sine die on 30th July 2024 was not made in isolation. This date was informed by the Parliamentary Calendar of the Fourth Session of the Eighth Parliament, which calls for Parliament to adjourn at the end of July.
“This guideline was discussed on several occasions at pre-sitting meetings with the Speaker and Leaders and was agreed upon weeks before 30th July 2024. As the official reports, voice, and video recordings of proceedings of the House will clearly demonstrate, I consistently communicated to the House the agreed adjournment date throughout the meeting. The adjournment was neither sudden nor unilateral, as evidenced by the contents of the official reports of 6th, 11th, 25th, and 26th July 2024.”
This clarification comes amid accusations that the Speaker prioritized international travel over parliamentary business and unilaterally decided to adjourn the House on 30th July 2024. The Speaker asserted that these accusations are unfounded and made in bad faith.
