Parliament last Friday went on recess, bringing to an end the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament. The recess is to allow Members of Parliament (MPs) to return to their constituencies to engage with constituents and also spend time with their families during the festive season.
Delivering the closing address on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Bernard Ahiafor, reminded legislators of the need to adhere strictly to the rules governing proceedings in the House to enhance public confidence in Parliament. He stressed that while protests, uproar, and walkouts have become permissible features of parliamentary practice, they should not threaten the orderly and dignified conduct of proceedings.
Mr Ahiafor referred to the chaotic scenes that occurred during debates on issues relating to the Kpandai parliamentary seat, which was declared vacant. “Although protests, uproar, and walkouts have become permissible features of parliamentary practice, they must not threaten the orderly and dignified conduct of parliamentary business,” he said.
According to him, Parliament derived its legitimacy from the plurality and divergence of views, and members must therefore engage in debates in a decorous and dispassionate manner that does not undermine the dignity and image of the House.
Mr Ahiafor also expressed appreciation to the leadership of the House, including the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mr Mahama Ayariga; the Minority Leader, Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin; and the Clerk to Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Ahuma Djietror, for ensuring the smooth running of parliamentary business despite challenges.
On his part, Mr Ayariga stated that although the Majority and Minority disagreed on several issues during proceedings, the Majority had no intention of gagging the Minority from expressing their concerns on legislation. He explained that even where bills were laid under a certificate of urgency, room was created for the Minority to critique them during debates.
He also cautioned MPs who serve as Ministers, board members, or chairpersons of state institutions to be mindful of their conduct, noting that they would one day be held accountable for actions taken in those roles.
Speaking on behalf of the Minority Caucus, Mr Afenyo-Markin assured that the Minority would continue to use all parliamentary tools, including debates, to scrutinise legislation before passage. He further called on government to expedite investigations into the military recruitment exercise that led to the death of six female applicants and ensure those responsible were brought to book.
Earlier before the recess, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, laid before Parliament the Minerals and Mining Royalty Regulations (MMRR, 2025). The regulations seek to introduce variable royalty bands for gold, lithium, and other minerals, as well as a revised lithium agreement between government and Barari DV Ghana Limited.
The regulations establish a sliding-scale framework that allows royalty rates to be adjusted in line with global commodity price fluctuations. Mr Buah explained that lithium currently attracts a royalty rate of seven per cent, which could rise to 12 per cent if prices increase. He said the regulations offer greater certainty for both government and investors and also introduce a one per cent Community Development Fund to finance infrastructure projects in affected communities.
However, the Ranking Member on the Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Mr Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, criticised the revised lithium agreement, describing it as undermining public trust and weakening confidence in the country’s natural resource governance framework. He also accused the government of failing to adequately address illegal small-scale mining.
By Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
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