The Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic officially resumes sitting today, Thursday, May 21, marking the commencement of the Second Meeting of the Second Session. Lawmakers are returning from recess to face a heavy legislative workload that includes major bills and sweeping policy reforms across key sectors of the economy.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor outlined an extensive agenda spanning transport, energy, justice, security, and governance reforms.
https://www.myjoyonline.com/police-launch-manhunt-for-suspect-in-sekondi-for-alleged-defilement/
Transport and Aviation Agreements
High on the agenda for this meeting is the Maritime and Related Offences Bill.
“We expect to receive the Maritime and Related Offences Bill from the Committee on Transport because it’s been moved, the first reading done, and referred to the committee to bring a report for the second reading,” the South Dayi MP stated.
Additionally, the House is expected to deliberate on:
-
Reports on the Road Traffic Regulations.
-
Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Ghana and several nations, including Luxembourg, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Major Shake-up in the Energy Sector
Parliament will also consider significant legislative changes aimed at reforming Ghana’s energy and petroleum sectors. Key items include reviews of the legal framework governing the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and new legislation to facilitate private-sector participation in electricity distribution.
Furthermore, lawmakers will look at futuristic energy frameworks, including:
-
The Nuclear Power Corporation Bill 2026.
-
A bill to establish a dedicated Renewable Energy Authority.
“We want to establish a statutory entity that will coordinate renewable energy issues like solar and wind,” Dafeamekpor explained.
Justice, Prison Reform, and National Security
In a bid to address overcrowding in the nation’s holding facilities, the Ministry of the Interior is expected to table the highly anticipated Community Service Bill. The legislation aims to introduce non-custodial sentencing for minor offences.
Other security and administrative measures up for debate include:
-
Amendments to the National Identity Register law.
-
New regulations regarding Prison Service Parole.
-
A proposed law to improve inter-agency coordination among security forces.
Addressing recent public friction, Dafeamekpor noted, “There have been complaints about activities of security operatives… so the new legislation is to take care of that.”
https://www.myjoyonline.com/accra-high-court-grants-gh%c2%a2100000-bail-to-abronye-dc/
Governance, Ethics, and Legal Consolidation
To strengthen public accountability, Parliament will consider a proposed Code of Conduct Bill, which seeks to tighten regulations surrounding asset declaration and ethical conduct for public officers.
Finally, the House will review CI 47, the constitutional instrument governing civil procedure in the High Court. The goal is to merge its numerous piecemeal updates into a unified document.
“There have been so many amendments… we think it’s time to consolidate these issues into a new procedure code,” the Majority Chief Whip concluded.