After a two-month recess that began in August, Ghana’s Parliament is gearing up to resume its sessions marking the commencement of the Third Meeting of the Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
In an official statement released and signed by the Clerk to Parliament, Cyril K.O., members of Parliament have been informed to convene on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at Parliament House, Accra.
According to the statement, MPs are expected to be in their seats promptly by 10:00 a.m., adhering to standing order 32(2) of the Parliament of Ghana. The resumption of Parliament’s activities is anticipated to be marked with discussions, debates, and legislative actions that will shape the country’s future.
Before their recess in August, Members of Parliament had been highly active, passing a substantial number of bills into law. Notable among these was the Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, aimed at addressing political vigilantism and the issue of landguards. Government has been increasingly concerned about these issues, and this bill is a critical step in addressing these challenges.
Another key legislation that had been passed is the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which sought to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703). The amendment significantly increased penalties for individuals involved in the unauthorized buying or selling of minerals and those engaged in illegal mining activities. The amendment effectively raised the penalty units for illegal mining operations from 3,000 to 10,000 units, translating to a minimum prison sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 20 years for offenders.
Additionally, Members of Parliament approved various loans and commercial credit agreements between the Ghanaian government and several countries and institutions. Notably, the approval of an $11,040,425 million loan request for the acquisition of Night Vision Binoculars and Monoculars for the Ghana Armed Forces was an essential part of Parliament’s recent legislative activities.
