Speaker recalls MPS to discuss state of emergency

The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Tuesday recalled parliamentarians from their Easter recess to sit on Thursday, April 4, 2002 to discuss the declaration of state of emergency in the Dagbon Traditional Area of the Northern Region.

A statement signed by the Speaker said the House would commence sitting at 10am on Thursday to "discharge the responsibility imposed upon it by Article 31 (3) of the Constitution".

The article states: "Parliament shall, within 72 hours after being notified, decide whether the proclamation should remain in force or should be revoked; and the President shall act in accordance with the decision of Parliament."

Article 31 (4) states that a declaration of a state of emergency shall cease to have effect at the expiration of seven days beginning with the date of publication of the declaration, unless, before the expiration of that period, it is approved by a resolution passed for that purpose by a majority of all the members of parliament.

The President on Wednesday imposed a state of emergency on the Dagbon area following fighting at Yendi between the Abudu and Andani Gates in the chieftaincy dispute in which at least 28 people, including the Ya-Na were killed.

The Minority in Parliament on Friday called for the convening of an emergency session of Parliament in line with Article 31 of the 1992 Constitution to deliberate on the Yendi situation.