The Speaker of Parliament, Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, has recalled Parliament for an emergency sitting.
This was after 54 Members of Parliament petitioned the Speaker to recall Members for an emergency deliberation to set up an urgent enquiry into the recently held District Assembly elections which faced serious challenges in several districts.
The petition, signed by 54 MPs from the Minority side of the House, including Independent MPs, was in accordance with Article 112(3) and Order 38(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which allows 15% of Members to request for a an urgent meeting of Parliament and for the Speaker to, within a week, summon a meeting of Parliament for the consideration of the urgent agenda.
The petition was issued on January 4, 2011 and Parliament is expected to return to sit on January 18, one week after the Speaker summons a meeting for the petition’s consideration.
The petition called for a “20-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the issues surrounding the apparent difficulties of the Electoral Commission (EC) in conducting originally announced 28th December, 2010 District Assembly and Unit Committee Elections.”
Its stated terms of reference were:
(a) Determine the adequacy of request(s) for funding as submitted by the EC to the Government of Ghana (GoG).
(b) Determine the adequacy of funding provision and the timeliness of releases by the GoG to the EC for the purposes of conducting the said elections.
(c) Determine the reasons for the delay in the printing of ballot papers for the said elections.
(d) Ascertain why the EC did not postpone the entire election to ensure fairness and equity to all candidates and the electorate.
(e) Consider any other related matters.
(f) Submit recommendations to the House on the foregoing and proposals for necessary action to forestall the recurrence of a similar situation in any and all future elections in the country.
Those who signed up to the petition include Joe Ghartey (Essikado), Benito Owusu-Bio (Atwima Nwabiagya), Yaw Afful (Jaman South), Elizabeth Agyeman (Oforikrom), Isaac Osei (Subin), Shirley Botchwey (Weija), Seth Adjei Baah (Nkawkaw), Catherine Afeku (Evalue-Gwira), Alhaji Abdul Karim Iddrisu (Nanton), Yaw Ntow-Ababio (Dormaa West), Joe Osei-Owusu (Bekwai), Gifty Ohene-Konadu (Asante Akyem South), Matthew Opoku Prempeh (Manhyia), Akosua Frema Osei-Opare (Ayawaso West Wuogon), Elizabeth Sackey (Okaikwei North), Albert Kan Dapaah (Afigya Sekyere West), Daniel Botwe (Okere), Dominic Nitiwul (Bimbilla), Isaac Asiamah (Atwima Mponua), Maxwell Kofi Jumah (Asokwa), Frederick Opare-Ansah (Suhum), Samuel Obodai (Agona West), Dr Anthony Akoto Osei (Old Tafo) and Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu (Ahafo Ano South).