Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, has recalled the House from recess to sit on urgent parliamentary business.

In a notice titled “Recall of Parliament”, issued by the authority of the Speaker in accordance with the power conferred on the Speaker of Parliament by Order 58(4) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana and dated August 12, the Speaker directed that the House shall reconvene at noon on Monday, August 24, for a five-day sitting.

“The Speaker of Parliament do hereby direct that Parliament shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, be recalled from recess to sit on Monday, at 12 noon of the 24th to Friday the 28th day of August, 2026, at Parliament House, Accra, to consider urgent parliamentary business,” parts of the notice read.

Order 58(4) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana empowers the Speaker to recall Parliament from recess when urgent business arises that requires immediate parliamentary attention.

Although the Speaker’s notice did not specify the matters necessitating the recall, Majority Chief Whip Nelson Rockson Dafeamekpor has explained that Parliament will, among other things, vet ministers nominated by President John Dramani Mahama following his recent ministerial reshuffle.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, August 13, Mr Dafeamekpor said the recall was necessary to enable the House to deal with the ministerial nominations and other important parliamentary business ahead of the presentation of the national budget.

He said the House also needed to address other crucial matters before Parliament reconvenes for the budget process.

The five-day sitting will therefore provide Parliament with an opportunity to undertake the necessary vetting and consideration of pending government business before the next phase of the parliamentary calendar.

Meanwhile, Parliament officially went on recess on Friday, July 31, 2026, when the House adjourned sine die (indefinitely) at the close of the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament.

Bills Parliament passed before recess

Before Parliament went on recess, it passed several bills during the sitting on Friday, July 31.

Among these include the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, which guarantees cocoa farmers not less than 70 per cent of the Free on Board (FOB) export price through the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

Lawmakers also passed the Excise Bill, 2026, abolishing excise taxes on locally manufactured fruit juices to lower consumer prices, encourage healthier consumption and support local agro-processing industries.

The House further approved the Customs Bill, 2026, establishing a modern legal framework for customs administration to consolidate existing customs laws, facilitate international trade, strengthen border security and improve domestic revenue mobilisation.

Parliament also passed the Tribunals Bill, which provides for the establishment of Regional and District Tribunals to help reduce the backlog of cases in the courts.

Other key legislation approved includes the National Defence University Ghana Bill and the Community Service Bill, which introduces community service as an alternative to custodial sentences for persons convicted of specified categories of offences.

The House adjourned after concluding debate on the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review presented by the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, marking the end of its business for the meeting before the parliamentary recess.