Parliament will begin its plenary sittings at 2:00 pm from Tuesday to Friday under a new directive from Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who has also pledged not to support legislation intended to silence journalists.
Delivering his commencement address to Parliament on Tuesday, November 10, Bagbin said the mornings would be used by committees to examine bills, conduct inquiries, consult stakeholders and prepare reports.
The change is based on Parliament’s Standing Orders, particularly Orders 5 and 55. Regular sittings will continue to last five hours, meaning proceedings are expected to end at 7:00 pm when the House starts at 2:00 pm.
Bagbin retains the power to alter the timetable for special business. On Thursday, November 12, Parliament is due to convene at 6:00 pm for the presentation of the 2027 Budget by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Committees to use mornings for parliamentary business
The Speaker said Parliament had struggled with unpredictable starting times in recent years, with sittings beginning at 10:00 am, 12:00 noon or 3:00 pm.
He said traffic affecting MPs travelling to Parliament in the mornings had also made it more difficult for lawmakers, committees and ministers to plan their work.
“The time has come for us to settle on a more consistent and predictable arrangement,” he said. “The purpose of this direction is simply to make Parliament work better.”
Bagbin called on committee leaders to use the morning sessions to deal with referrals promptly. He recently urged them to put the national interest ahead of partisan politics, amid concerns that completed committee reports were not reaching the floor of the House.
The afternoon timetable will also allow ministers to attend to executive responsibilities in the morning before joining parliamentary proceedings. It is expected to make debates easier for members of the public to follow through Parliament TV and online streams after work.
The Speaker stressed that the new start time must be applied strictly.
“A certain time of 2pm must mean precisely that. It must not become an invitation to commence proceedings at 3pm or later,” he said.
Parliament previously tested a 2:00 pm start in October 2025, but abandoned the arrangement after concerns over late adjournments and attendance.
Bagbin promises not to support laws silencing journalists
Bagbin also used his address to encourage the media to scrutinise public officials without fear of censorship or political interference, referring to Article 162 of the 1992 Constitution.
“I would rather have a media that poses uncomfortable questions than one that sings hallelujahs and hossanas to us every time. And I would rather this house be told the naked truth in unpleasant words than have a media that sweeps our dirt under the carpet,” he said.
“While I am Speaker, I will not support any law whose purpose or effect is to cow journalists into silence,” Bagbin added.
On Saturday, he promised reporters direct online access to parliamentary records before the end of 2026.
