Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin says he intends to admit the Minority’s motion seeking parliamentary scrutiny of the reported losses under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).
However, Mr Bagbin has made it clear that the motion cannot be debated during the ongoing one-week emergency sitting, which was convened specifically to consider three items of business outlined by President John Dramani Mahama.
The Speaker said the motion, which was received at his office on August 21, 2026, had been personally reviewed and would be admitted to allow Parliament to properly examine the claims surrounding the reported losses.
“I have gone through the motion myself and I intend to admit the motion because we have to at least have an end to litigation,” Mr Bagbin said.
He explained that Parliament would have the opportunity to determine whether the reported figure represents an actual financial loss or a cost associated with the programme.
“As to whether it’s a loss or it’s a cost, this House will have the opportunity to go through it,” he said, adding that Ghanaians would be able to listen to the arguments from both sides and form their own conclusions.
The Speaker’s comments followed concerns raised by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin over the reported GH¢22 billion, equivalent to US$1.7 billion, associated with the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.
Afenyo-Markin also linked the matter to the wider challenges posed by illegal mining and the management of Ghana’s gold resources.
While accepting that the Minority’s motion should eventually be admitted, Mr Bagbin stressed that it could not form part of the business of the current emergency sitting.
He reminded Members of Parliament that the House had been recalled specifically to consider the three matters contained in President Mahama’s request.
Mr Bagbin therefore directed the Table Office to concentrate exclusively on the business for which Parliament was recalled.
“We will not do any new business,” he said, adding that Parliament would also not have question time or statements during the emergency sitting.
The Speaker explained that the GoldBod motion was filed after Parliament had already resumed sitting, meaning the procedure for recalling the House from recess could not be applied to the current situation.
He referred to Order 59, Rules 2 and 3 of Parliament’s Standing Orders, which provide a mechanism for Members to request the recall of Parliament when the House is on recess.
According to Mr Bagbin, such a recall could potentially be organised within three or four days, subject to the required consultations with the leadership of Parliament.
He said the procedure, however, could not be invoked for the GoldBod motion during the current sitting because Parliament was already in session.
Mr Bagbin also defended Parliament’s commitment to transparency, saying the House should not be seen as preventing the country from examining issues of public interest.
“But it’s not proper for us to try to cover up anything,” he said.
He noted that Ghana’s Parliament is now part of the Open Governance Partnership and has taken steps to make its proceedings more open and accessible.
The Speaker further said both sides of the political divide had shown a willingness to explain their positions on the GoldBod controversy, both inside and outside Parliament.
He stressed that he would not stand in the way of the country having the matter properly examined.
For now, Parliament will proceed with the three items of business for which President Mahama requested the emergency sitting, while the Minority’s GoldBod motion awaits consideration at a later stage.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe