Parliament of Ghana

Parliament of Ghana. It is the unicameral legislative body of the Republic of Ghana, vested with supreme legislative power under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The institution traces its origins to the colonial Gold Coast Legislative Council and has evolved through various republics, with its current form established by the Fourth Republic. Comprising 275 members, it is central to the nation's governance, exercising critical functions in lawmaking, oversight, and representation.

History

The legislative history of Ghana begins with the establishment of the Gold Coast Legislative Council in 1850 under British colonial rule. This body evolved, gaining an elected African majority after the 1946 Burns constitution. Following independence in 1957, the first Parliament of the First Republic was formed, with Kwame Nkrumah as prime minister. Subsequent periods of military rule, including the regimes of the National Liberation Council and the Provisional National Defence Council, led to parliamentary suspensions. The return to democratic rule was marked by the 1992 Ghanaian constitutional referendum, which established the current framework under the Fourth Republic, with its first parliament inaugurated in 1993 after the 1992 Ghanaian parliamentary election.

Composition and structure

The Parliament is composed of 275 members, known as Members of Parliament (MPs), each elected from a single-member constituency via the first-past-the-post system for a four-year term. Leadership is provided by the Speaker, elected from among members or qualified citizens, assisted by a First and Second Deputy Speaker. The work of the house is organized through a system of Parliamentary Committees, such as the Appointments Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. The administrative functions are managed by the Parliamentary Service, headed by the Clerk to the Parliament of Ghana.

Powers and functions

As stipulated in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, Parliament holds the exclusive power to make laws for Ghana. It exercises oversight over the Executive, including the power to approve key presidential appointments like Ministers and Justices of the Supreme Court. It holds the power of the purse, authorizing all government expenditure and taxation through the annual Budget. Parliament also has the power to ratify international treaties, declarations of war, and states of emergency, and can initiate the process to remove the President of Ghana or other high officials through impeachment.

Legislative process

The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill, which can be a Government bill presented by a Minister or a Private member's bill from an MP. Bills undergo a first reading, a second reading involving debate, and a committee stage where a relevant Parliamentary Committee scrutinizes details. Following a consideration stage and a third reading, the bill is passed by a majority vote. For a bill to become law, it requires the assent of the President of Ghana. If the president refuses assent, Parliament can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

Current Parliament and political parties

The current 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic was inaugurated on 7 January 2021 following the 2020 Ghanaian general election. It is historically unique due to a 137-137 seat tie between the two major parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), with one independent member. The Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin of the NDC, holds a casting vote. This hung parliament has led to heightened political tension and significant scrutiny of government business, including the controversial approval of the 2022 Budget of Ghana.

Parliament House

The seat of Parliament is the Parliament House located in the capital, Accra. The complex, whose foundation stone was laid by Queen Elizabeth II during her 1961 visit, houses the chamber, offices for MPs, and committee rooms. It is a prominent landmark near other key state institutions like the Supreme Court of Ghana and the Flagstaff House. The building has undergone several expansions and renovations to accommodate the growing legislature and remains the central venue for the nation's parliamentary democracy.