Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin says he intends to admit the Minority’s motion seeking scrutiny of the reported losses under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).

He has, however, made it clear that the matter cannot be debated during the ongoing emergency sitting.

The Speaker said the motion, which was received at his office on August 21, had been personally reviewed and would be admitted to allow Parliament to thoroughly examine the claims surrounding the reported losses.

“A few words on one thing mentioned by the minority leader, which has to do with the motion they have filed, which was received in my office on the 21st of August, 2026, just three days ago that it got to my office. 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,” he said.

Mr Bagbin said Parliament would have the opportunity to determine whether the reported figure constituted a loss or a cost after considering the matter.

“As to whether it's a loss or it's a cost, this house will have the opportunity to go through it and please, Ghanaians are very intelligent people,” he said.

The Speaker added that Ghanaians would be able to assess the arguments from both sides and reach their own conclusions.

“They will listen, they will read in between the lines and they will make their decisions,” he said.

His comments followed an intervention by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who raised concerns over the reported GH¢22 billion equivalent of US$1.7 billion associated with the DGPP and linked the issue to the wider consequences of illegal mining.

While indicating his intention to admit the Minority’s motion, Speaker Bagbin stressed that it could not form part of the business of the current emergency sitting.

He reminded MPs that the House had been recalled specifically to consider three items of business outlined by President John Dramani Mahama.

“These three items and then go back to the basic and fundamental function of representation and that is what recess is about,” he said.

The Speaker said the motion could not be considered during the current one-week sitting because Parliament was no longer on recess when the motion was filed.

“This is not a matter that can be considered within this one week because we are now sitting and the notice has come, we are not on recess,” he said.

He consequently directed the Table Office to focus exclusively on the business for which Parliament had been recalled.

“So please, as I stated, let's make sure that we finish the business that was itemized by his excellency the President within the one week,” he said.

“That is what we are here to do. We will not do any new business and so I am directing the table office to as much as possible focus on only this business. We are not going to have question time. We are not going to have any statements.”

Speaker Bagbin also defended the principle of transparency in handling the GoldBod controversy, saying Parliament should not be seen as preventing the country from examining the matter.

“But it's not proper for us to try to cover up anything,” he said.

He noted that Ghana’s Parliament was now part of the Open Governance Partnership and had taken steps to make its proceedings more open.

“We are now part of the Open Governance Partnership and we have opened our parliament beyond any other parliament in Africa,” he said.

According to him, both sides of the political divide had shown a willingness to engage and explain their positions on the matter.

“So this is one of the things that from listening to both sides, not only in the house, even outside the house, both sides are willing to engage and to explain themselves and I don't think that the speaker will be the one that will stand in the way of the country,” he said.

The Speaker further explained that Parliament’s Standing Orders provide a mechanism for MPs to request a recall when the House is on recess.

He cited Order 59, Rules 2 and 3, which he said allow members to request a recall, subject to consultation with the leadership of the House.

He indicated that such a recall could potentially be organised within three or four days, but stressed that the procedure could not be invoked for the GoldBod motion during the current sitting because Parliament was already in session.

For now, Parliament will proceed with the three items that prompted President Mahama’s request for the emergency sitting, while the Minority’s GoldBod motion awaits consideration at a later stage.