Speaker Alban Bagbin has recently announced James Agalca as the Majority Leader, a move that has been subject to a significant clarification from the House of Representatives. The announcement follows a communication from President Mahama to Parliament on August 24th, during a parliamentary emergency sitting, where the Speaker elucidated a critical point regarding the leadership position’s designation.
Mr. Bagbin explained that the position of Majority Leader is not a presidential appointment, but rather a designation conferred by the parliamentary caucus. He clarified that the current arrangement involves the General Secretary of the party communicating the leadership change through the appropriate channels, not directly from the President.
He emphasized that the current leadership role is a ‘c caucus’ designation – a designation conferred by the party’s leadership in the House. The Speaker further stated that the role is not a presidential appointment but a position held by a designated member of Parliament, as defined by the caucus.
In response to a question regarding the duration of the acting position, Speaker Bagbin asserted that Mr. Agalca will remain in the role until the party’s communication of the change and the caucus’s acceptance of it is complete. He indicated that the caucus will accept the change, and the acting position will be held until then. The announcement comes as Parliament enters a five-day emergency session, scheduled to conclude on Friday, August 28th, to address a range of urgent matters, including nominations to the Supreme Court, two ministerial nominations, and the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Amendment Bill.
Beyond these specific nominations, the emergency session is expected to consider other business, as outlined by President Mahama, including the nominations of three individuals to the Supreme Court, two ministerial nominations, and the adoption of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Amendment Bill. The Speaker directed members to strictly adhere to the agenda, limiting proceedings to only matters explicitly requested by the House.
As Speaker Bagbin stated, no other business outside the stipulated agenda will be admitted during the emergency session. The clarification underscores a delicate balance of authority within the parliamentary system, reflecting the distinct roles and responsibilities of the caucus and the individual members of Parliament.
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Source: Adom Online
