The Deputy Minority Whip in Parliament, Habib Iddrisu, has questioned the need for Parliament to reconvene in August, arguing that the matters prompting the recall are not urgent enough to warrant an extraordinary sitting.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on August 13, 2026, Iddrisu said the issues before Parliament could have been dealt with when the House resumes from its recess in October.

Speaker recalls Parliament from recess for 'urgent business'

“I think the reconvening of Parliament might be necessary when we are actually aware that something [is urgent],” he noted.

According to him, the recall is particularly aimed at vetting two ministerial nominees, the Minister-designate for Local Government and the Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology.

The Member of Parliament for Tolon argued that the vetting process could have been scheduled for October, allowing Members of Parliament to use the current recess to attend to constituency matters and other parliamentary responsibilities.

“The President has approved caretaker ministers, so he should allow us to enjoy our holidays, to do our constituency work, and to do other parliamentary work. So, when we reconvene in October, then we’ll be able to vet these ministers and pass them,” he stated.

Iddrisu also rejected suggestions that the Minority had taken a decision to boycott the August sitting.

“We haven’t taken a decision whether we are coming or not, but there’s no decision or no indication that we will not come,” he said.

However, he indicated that, based on his position as Deputy Minority Whip, he expected the Minority to attend when Parliament is reconvened.

“So, I’m very convinced as a deputy that we will be attending to Parliament,” he added.

Iddrisu further questioned the circumstances surrounding the Speaker’s decision to recall Parliament, arguing that it differed from previous instances in which Members of Parliament themselves had been required to initiate the process when they considered a matter urgent.

He recalled that under the previous administration, even when the government considered certain matters urgent, MPs had to sign in support of a request for Parliament to reconvene.

Parliament is expected to reconvene from August 24 to 28, 2026, following Speaker Alban Bagbin’s recall of the House under Order 58(4) of the Standing Orders.

The Speaker has indicated that the extraordinary sitting is necessary to deal with urgent parliamentary business.

JKB/VPO

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