Bagbin suspends Parliamentary resumption until further notice

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has indefinitely suspended the commencement of the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

The decision, according to a statement from his office, was made due to circumstances beyond his control.

In a statement issued on Monday, October 6, 2025, Speaker Bagbin formally announced the deferment, noting that the change was unavoidable. “Pursuant to the notice to summon Parliament dated 29th September 2025, I, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, hereby give notice that the commencement of the Third Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic is deferred until further notice due to circumstances beyond my control,” the statement read.

Although the Speaker did not provide specific details regarding the reasons for the suspension, the indefinite postponement has raised questions among lawmakers and observers about what may have prompted the decision. Sources close to Parliament say internal logistical and administrative challenges may have contributed to the delay, though this has not been officially confirmed.

The Third Meeting of Parliament was expected to deliberate on a range of pressing national issues, including the review of government policy proposals, key legislative bills, and preparatory work ahead of the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.

The delay is therefore likely to affect the legislative calendar and timelines for approving major policy initiatives.

Officials from the Parliamentary Service have indicated that a new date for the reconvening of the House will be communicated once the issues leading to the suspension are resolved. In the meantime, Members of Parliament have been advised to remain on alert for further communication from the Speaker’s office.

The Parliament of Ghana has maintained its ranks as the most open legislative body in West Africa, according to the 2025 Africa Open Parliament Index.

The latest report provides a comprehensive assessment of 33 African national parliaments, measuring their performance across three critical dimensions of legislative openness, including Transparency, Civic Participation, and Public Accountability.

The report conducted by the Africa Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations Network (APMON), however, suggested that the unicameral Parliament of Ghana scored an overall of 77.60%, placing second on the continent.

South Africa’s bicameral parliament came first in Africa with an overall score of 79.69% and was ranked as the most open in Southern Africa.

Kenya followed the two nations keenly, scoring 73.96%. It was also adjudged the most open legislative body in East Africa.

The Africa Open Parliament Index is a legislative transparency tool that seeks to measure the level of openness across national and regional parliaments in Africa, first published in 2022.