Ghana’s Parliament returns from recess today, Monday, August 24, for a five-day emergency sitting scheduled to run until Friday, August 28, 2026, following a recall by Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to attend to urgent national business.
Speaker Bagbin issued the recall on Wednesday, August 12, in accordance with Order 58(4) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
A major item expected to dominate the sitting is the vetting of two ministerial nominees submitted by President John Dramani Mahama as part of his first ministerial reshuffle.
The nominees are Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, nominated as Minister-designate for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, nominated as Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology.
The Appointments Committee, chaired by First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor, is expected to commence the vetting process after the nominees are formally referred to the committee by the Speaker.
Beyond the ministerial vetting, the Minority is also expected to table a motion seeking a bipartisan parliamentary probe into an alleged GH¢22 billion loss linked to the Bank of Ghana’s gold purchase programme and activities of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). The move is expected to intensify scrutiny of the programme, with the Minority pushing for answers on the financial losses, the management of the gold transactions and the role of GoldBod in the transactions.
The House is also expected to revisit the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, following Speaker Bagbin’s call for reconsideration of aspects of the legislation.
The Speaker’s position has been presented as a call for Parliament to reconsider the Bill rather than a directive to abandon it.
The Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, which was passed before the House adjourned, is also expected to feature prominently in the political debate, with the Minority anticipated to press President Mahama to withhold assent and return the legislation to Parliament for broader stakeholder engagement.
Builsa North legislator and current Chairman of the Defence and Interior committee, James Agalga will also assume the majority front bench as it’s new leader and leader of Government Business in the House.
The five-day sitting is therefore expected to be marked by intense debate as the House tackles the urgent legislative and governmental business that prompted the recall.
