Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has criticised the decision to recall Parliament a day after its recess.

The Speaker has called it an "act in bad faith."

The emergency recall was initiated by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin, who petitioned the Speaker under Article 112(3) of the Constitution to reconvene the House just a day after the July 30 adjournment to address critical state matters.

Despite his objections, Speaker Bagbin agreed to admit three urgent items for deliberation during a two-day emergency sitting starting today, Tuesday, 3 September 2024.

The agenda includes a USD250 million loan agreement for the energy sector, another USD250 million loan for the Ghana Stability Fund, and proposed tax exemptions.

Expressing his displeasure over the timing of the recall, Speaker Bagbin noted: “Despite the efforts of the House, some businesses could not be completed, and I indicated to the House my ‘no’ objection to the House being recalled to sit in mid-September under Article 1123.

“To exercise this option immediately a day after the adjournment is, to say the least, unfortunate and in bad faith.”

However, Majority Leader Afenyo Markin defended his decision, asserting that his request was made with sincere intentions.

“Mr Speaker, the request as I made in a humble prayer was to enable this House to undertake some urgent assignments. I humbly submit, Rt. Hon. Speaker, that the application was well-grounded in good faith, in spite of the disagreement,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Minority, led by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, reiterated their opposition to the proposed tax exemptions, suggesting alternatives such as converting them into tax credits or linking them to equity shares, in line with the Tax Exemptions Act.

"The NDC Minority has not changed our position on these tax exemptions; they are not in the best interest of Ghanaians. Our position has always been, and still remains, that they should convert these tax exemptions into tax credits and otherwise may link this tax exemption into equity shares as stipulated in the Tax Exemptions Act," Dr, Forson maintained.