Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has announced James Agalga as Majority Leader, but clarified that Mr Agalga cannot take up the full title yet, due to an error in how his nomination was communicated to the House.
After reading a communication from President Mahama to the House on August 24, during Parliament’s emergency sitting the Speaker clarified that Mr Agalga will, for now, hold an acting position.
“Acting, because the President does not have authority to communicate the change in leadership. It was done in error,” he said.
He explained that the position of Majority Leader is not a presidential appointment but a caucus designation.
“Majority Leader means a Member of Parliament designated by the caucus as their leader in the House. Party does the communication through the General Secretary,” he said.
Speaker Bagbin added that Mahama Ayariga will continue to occupy the seat until the party communicates the change and the caucus accepts it.
The announcement comes as Parliament begins a five-day emergency sitting to consider a number of matters described as urgent by the President.
The emergency session, which started on Monday and is scheduled to end on Friday, August 28, will consider the nominations of three individuals to the Supreme Court, two ministerial nominations and the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Amendment Bill.
The House is also expected to undertake other business specifically outlined in the President’s request for the emergency recall.
Speaker Alban Bagbin, however, directed Members of Parliament to limit proceedings strictly to the matters for which the House was recalled.
He stated that no other business outside the specified agenda would be admitted during the emergency sitting.
