Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has explained that President John Dramani Mahama’s request for the recall of Parliament did not automatically require Parliament to reconvene.

According to the Speaker, Order 58(4) of the Standing Orders of Parliament gives the Speaker the authority to exercise judgment and discretion when considering a request to recall the House during an adjournment.

He said after carefully considering the matters raised by the President and the reasons advanced for their urgent consideration, he was satisfied that the circumstances warranted the exceptional recall of Parliament.

Of particular concern to the Speaker was the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which he said has important implications for the stability and functioning of Ghana’s financial sector and the broader economy.

Speaker Bagbin noted that Parliament was originally scheduled to resume in mid-October 2026, but he determined that the urgency surrounding the Bill and the other matters justified bringing Parliament back earlier.

However, the Speaker stressed that his decision to recall Parliament does not amount to a determination on the merits of the matters before the House.

He explained that the recall only establishes that the matters are sufficiently urgent to warrant parliamentary consideration. The final decision on the substantive issues, he said, remains the responsibility of Parliament.

“The decision to recall the House… does not dictate what Parliament might decide upon them. That responsibility belongs to the House.”

Speaker Bagbin further emphasized that Parliament is a continuing constitutional institution and must remain capable of responding whenever circumstances require the exercise of its legislative, deliberative, oversight or other constitutional functions.

He therefore defended the recall as an exercise of his constitutional and parliamentary discretion in response to matters he considered sufficiently urgent and important.