Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has urged MPs to begin a conversation on a comprehensive healthcare support scheme, given the demanding nature of their parliamentary work.
“As a House, we must begin earnest discussions on a comprehensive healthcare support programme tailored to the unique pressure of our parliamentary work,” Mr Bagbin said in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Benard Ahiafor, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
This was during the closing ceremony of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament in Accra.
The work of Ghanaian legislators is very demanding as they sometimes stay deep into the night and even into the next day to pass important legislation.
Under normal circumstances, MPs are supposed to spend five hours in the Chamber daily for the business of the House.
However, due to the heavy workload and legislative demands, the MPs sometimes spend more than 10 hours in the Chamber.
During the passing of the Ghana Goldboard bill in March this year, the House closed at exactly 0300 hours, sitting for more than 10 hours that particular day.
In recent years, Ghanaian MPs have died unexpectedly, and postmortem examination reports have often revealed high blood pressure and heart failure as the cause of death.
The recent casualty was the late MP for Akwatia, Ernest Yaw Kumi, whose death occurred on Monday, July 7, 2025, after spending just seven months in Parliament as a first-timer legislator.
Mr Bagbin, during the closing ceremony, said heart failure was the cause of Mr Ernest Yaw Kumi’s demise.
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader and MP for Effutu constituency, in his closing remarks, also added his voice to the Speaker’s call, and urged the legislators to spend time to undergo medical check-ups during the recess since their lives matter.
Earlier, Mr Bagbin entreated the MPs to reconnect with their constituents, undertake field oversight and deepen parliamentary democracy during the recess.
He acknowledged the efforts, contributions and commitment of the MPs towards parliamentary business throughout the 43 parliamentary sittings over the 10 weeks.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to my honourable members for your unwavering commitment to the business of the House.
“Over the course of the meeting held between May and August, Parliament convened a total of 43 sittings.
“During this time, the House diligently exercised its legislative oversight and representative functions, consulting significant businesses and deliberating on matters of national interest,” he said.
Among the key highlights of the Meeting were major constitutional business, presentation of mid-year budget review, 73 statements made, vetting of four deputy ministerial nominees and seven supreme court nominees.
In all, 13 bills were presented, out of which eight were passed, one at the consideration stage, two at the committee level, and two rescinded.
The bills that were passed included the Energy Sector Levy Amendment Bill 2025, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025, the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Amendment Bill 2025, the Social Protection Bill 2025, and the University for Development Studies Bill 2025.
Mr Bagbin commended the leadership of both sides of the House and underscored the need to approach issues through consensus-building and negotiations.
Mr Bagbin also commended his two deputy Speakers for steering the affairs of the House during his absence, the Clerks, the Parliamentary Press Corps and the entire staff of the Parliamentary Service.
The House was adjourned sine die (meaning indefinitely).
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