Leadership in Parliament

Leadership of the House

The Speaker

Election of the Speaker

After a general election the majority party in the house in consultation with other parties nominates a speaker. The speaker may or may not be a Member of Parliament but must possess the qualifications to stand for elections as a Member of Parliament.

Duties of the Speaker

The Speaker presides over the house and enforces observance of all rules(Standing Orders) which govern its conduct. The Speakers decision upon any point of order shall not be open to appeal and shall not be reviewed by the House, except upon a substantive motion made after notice. The speaker is obliged to be non-partisan in her actions in the house and must usually be patient even under provocation. Behind the scenes the Speaker can exercise moderating influence on both the Majority and Minority to reach consensus in certain matters. The speaker conducts debates, but can vote for or against a motion if he is an elected Member. The speaker is Chairman of Parliamentary Service Board. The current speaker of the house is Rt. Hon. Joyce Bamford-Addo

Rt. Hon. Speaker - Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo

First Deputy Speaker

The Speaker is assisted in the performance of his duties by two Deputy Speakers (First and Second Deputy Speakers), who are elected at the commencement of every Parliament, both of whom should not belong to the same political party.

The First Deputy Speaker presides over the sittings of the House whenever the Speaker is absent. When he takes the chair, he exercises all the powers of the Speaker for the effective and efficient conduct of business in the House. By the standing Orders of the House, the First Deputy Speaker presides over the Appointments and the privileges Committee

First Deputy Speaker - Hon. E.K. Doe Adjaho

Second Deputy Speaker

The Second Deputy Speaker presides over the Sittings of the House in the absence of the Speaker and the First Deputy Speaker. Like the First Deputy Speaker, he exercises all the powers of the Speaker for the effective and efficient conduct of business in the House. By the Standing Orders of the House, the Second Deputy Speaker presides over the Committee on Members Holding Offices of Profit.

Second Deputy Speaker - Hon. Mike Oquaye

Majority Leader

The Majority Leader is elected from the party with majority number of seats in the house and assisted by a deputy majority leader and a majority chief whip. The leaders and the chief whip constitute the majority leadership of the house with whom the Speaker must consult together with the minority side on the business of the house and other important issues. They are usually the first to catch the Speaker's eye if they want to speak during important debates.

Functions

Scheduling legislation for floor consideration:-that is helps plan the daily, weekly, and annual legislative agendas, urges colleagues to support or defeat measures on the floor and works to advance the goals of the house in general and the majority party in particular. Guardian and champion of the legitimate rights of the house and Privileges of members. On occasions he speaks for the house in his dealings with the civil society as a leader of the house. Responsible for guiding the floor:-making sure business flows smoothly.

Majority Leader - Hon. Avoka Cletus Apul

Minority Leader

The Minority leader is elected from the second largest party in the house and also assisted by the deputy minority leader and a chief whip constituting the minority leadership of the house with whom the Speaker must consult together with the majority side on the business of the house and other important issues. They are usually the first to catch the Speaker's eye if they want to speak during important debates.

Minority Leader - Hon Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu