Effective Tuesday, February 6, parliamentary sessions will commence with the recitation of the national pledge following the implementation of the New Standing Orders.

Speaker Alban Bagbin in July last year made mention of this change during the launch of the Citizen's Bureau.

According to Speaker Bagbin, this will foster patriotism as the words of the national pledge will speak to lawmakers.

"We must demonstrate patriotism in what we do. That is why in the New Standing Orders, we have included the recitation of the national pledge.

"Very important. Because if you are not patriotic, how can you lead. For him, it is imperative that leaders are true to the average Ghanaian they work for," he said.

Under this updated framework, Members of Parliament will undergo a roll call and participate in reciting the national pledge at the beginning of proceedings.

This significant amendment in the new standing orders requires heads of institutions to personally appear before Parliament to address inquiries related to their agencies. This marks a departure from the previous protocol where Ministers of State could represent them during questioning.

Ahmed Ibrahim, the First Deputy Minority Whip in Parliament, elucidated on the revisions, emphasizing that autonomous bodies such as the Electoral Commission, CHRAJ boss, BoG governor, NCCE, and the Auditor General will now undergo scrutiny similar to ministers on the parliamentary floor.

"Independent bodies like the Electoral Commission, the CHRAJ boss, the BoG governor, NCCE, and the Auditor General will be subject to questioning just like ministers on the Floor, and the method of responding to questions on the Floor has also been outlined in the new Standing Orders.

"Previously, if the EC was invited, it could argue it had no audience on the Floor, and if the Common Fund administrator was required to attend, it would typically need the Minister's presence. However, this is no longer the case.

"The administrator can now appear and be interrogated by a committee, responding to inquiries accordingly. The procedure for answering questions has been incorporated into the new Standing Orders."

National Pledge

I pledge myself to the service of Ghana, with all my strength and with all my heart. I promise to hold in high esteem our heritage, won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers; and I pledge myself in all things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana. So help me God.