Ghanaian MPs Recalled for Urgent Business Amid Borrowing Speculations Members of Parliament in Ghana have been recalled by Speaker Alban Bagbin for an “urgent parliamentary business” on May 2, 2023. The move has sparked speculations among MPs, with some alleging that the recall is an attempt to compel them to approve the government’s decision to go on another borrowing spree. The country has been grappling with a challenging economic situation that has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House went on break on March 31, 2023, after passing three controversial tax bills into law. During the same sitting, the MPs approved two additional Supreme Court Justices who had been vetted by the Appointments Committee earlier in the year. However, some MPs were absent from the vote due to an accident involving the Nanton MP on his way to Parliament.
The Minority in Parliament has expressed its displeasure with the recall, accusing the government of recklessly borrowing despite the current economic challenges. Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, questioned the government’s decision to continue borrowing, stating that it has destroyed the Ghanaian economy beyond recognition for generations to come. The recall comes at a time when Ghana is seeking a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to restore credibility among investors, build reserve buffers and improve fiscal and debt sustainability.
