The 8th Parliament will commence its First Meeting of the Fourth Session today, 10th February, 2024 with a robust agenda after the House took a break on the 22nd of December, 2023.
The House is scheduled to convene promptly at 10:00am, as the session is poised to address a multitude of critical issues facing the nation
A comprehensive line up of 82 bills is anticipated to be presented to the House as Parliament aims to tackle a wide array of topics ranging from consumer protection to infrastructure development. Among them are; Aged Persons Bill, 2023, Advertising Council Bill, 2023, Consumer Protection Bill, 2023, Competition Bill, 2023, National Sugar Industry Development Board Bill, 2023, Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT Bill, 2023, Public University Bill, 2023, Ghana Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Ghana Roads Authority Bill, 2023
Additionally, twelve bills expected to be worked on during this meeting and presented back to the House for consideration. The Social Protection Bill, 2023 (Committee on Gender and Children), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (Amendment) Bill 2023 (Finance Committee), Environmental Protection Bill, 2023 (Committee on environment, Science and Technology), National Roads Authority Bill, 2023 (Committee on Roads and Transport), Ghana Boundary Commission Bill, 2023 (Committee on Lands and Forestry), Energy Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Committee on Mines and Energy), National Petroleum Authority Bill, 2023 (Committee on Mines and Energy); among others.
Private Members’ Bills such as Office of the Special Prosecutor (Amendment) Bill, 2021(Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs), Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs), Embarked Funds Capping and Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (Finance Committee), Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2021(Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs), are also on the agenda, highlighting the diverse range of legislative initiatives being pursued.
The Ghana Industry Property Office Bill, 2023, The Charted Institute of Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners, Ghana Bill, 2023 both with the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, will be read a Second time.
Two Bills, the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanian Family Values Bill and the Intestate Succession Bill, which are at the consideration stages will be considered by the House.
In addition to the Bills, a total of seventy-one instruments will be presented to the House, including regulations addressing health, transportation, and trade.
Total of sixty-five other indicative papers will be presented to the House. Among them are; Financing Proposal and Commercial Agreement for the Dualization of Accra-Cape Coast Road, Financing Proposal and Commercial Agreement for the construction of Konongo-Ejisu Road, Agreement for the redevelopment of Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The Speaker will admit Papers, Petitions, Motions for Debates and Questions to be answered by sector Ministers during the meeting.
Story by Sally Ama Quaicoe