ACCRA — Ghana’s parliament wrapped up its third meeting of the first session on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, capping 35 days of intense legislative work. Lawmakers tackled financial agreements, adopted committee reports and pushed through key legislation during the nearly two-month stretch that began Oct. 21.

The house approved President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, for chief justice. The Appointments Committee vetted him and submitted its report, though the Minority Caucus boycotted the process over legal concerns, according to parliamentary records.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson laid out the government’s 2026 budget statement and economic policy on Nov. 13. Parliament later greenlit it by adopting reports on estimates for ministries, departments and agencies, plus independent bodies. That cleared the path for passage of the Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2025, on Friday.

Fourteen bills made it through from 20 tabled. Standouts included the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi Bill, 2025; COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; Value Added Tax Bill, 2025; and Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025. Others passing were the National Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Ghana Education Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2025; Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Ghana Sports Fund Bill, 2025; Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2025; Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (Amendment) Bill, 2025; C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Six still sit at committee stage: the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, 2025; Governance Advisory Council Bill, 2025; Interstate Succession Bill, 2025; Legal Education Reform Bill, 2025; and Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill, 2025. One bill, an earlier version of the Ghana Sports Fund Bill, got withdrawn.

On Nov. 18, parliament adopted a Committee of Selection report to reshuffle memberships across standing and select committees. Officials said this ensured every lawmaker could handle oversight duties.

Question time saw 121 queries posed, with 117 answered and one pulled back. Ministers and MPs delivered 36 statements on diverse topics, some sparking referrals to committees or ministries.

Six legislative instruments from the prior meeting took effect, including Immigration Service (Amendment) Regulations, 2025; Public Private Partnership Regulations, 2025; and Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, 2025. Three new ones arrived: Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Revocation) Instrument, 2025; Public Procurement (Thresholds for Approving Authorities and Procurement Methods) Regulations, 2025; and Minerals and Mining (Royalties) Regulations, 2025. They await further action.

Resolutions covered one petroleum agreement, five contract agreements, one financial agreement, one tax waiver, four visa waiver pacts, one headquarters agreement and a UN convention ratification.

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who chairs the Business Committee, tabled nine business statements every Friday, laying out agendas for the weeks ahead. Various papers landed on desks and went to committees; some earned house approval, others remain pending.

Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin met editors and senior journalists to discuss house proceedings. The Media Relations Department and speaker’s office capped the year with a press soiree, honoring parliamentary correspondents. Bagbin urged them to report accurately on MPs’ constitutional roles.

Parliament reconvenes Feb. 3, 2026, for an eight-week first meeting of the second session.