What are the law making process in Ghana?

_1. First Reading:_

- The Clerk receives the bill from the legislative draftsman.

- The bill is given a First Reading.

- The First Reading means the title of the bill is read out in the House.

- Bills published in Government Gazette.

_2. Second Reading:_

- The bill is published in the Gazette before the Second Reading to solicit

public inputs and opinions.

- The Minister makes a Second Reading Statement or Brief on the

principles of the bill to the House.

- Members are allowed to debate on the general principles of the bill.

- Parliament considers if the principles are of concern to the

country and if the bill must proceed.

_3. Committee Stage:_

- The House refers the bill to the appropriate Committee for

consideration.

- Bills of national importance referred to the Committee of Whole House.

- Consideration of Bills:

- Committee reviews Clauses/sections of the bill

- Committee may invite inputs from non-members on the bill

- Committee considers, amends or otherwise alters or rejects Clauses

- Committee may invite inputs from non-members on the Bill.

- Committee concludes its consideration and prepares its Report.

_4. Third Reading:_

- The Committee presents a Report to the House.

- The House considers and debates the Committee’s Report.

- The House votes to approve or reject any amendments suggested

by the Committee.

- The House votes to approve or reject the bill.

_5. Presidential Assent:_

- The bill is transmitted to the President for assent after approval by the House.

- The President may:

(i) Assent the bill; or

(ii) Withhold assent and return the Bill to Parliament with a message

stating the reasons for the refusal to assent. Where Parliament passes the

bill again, within six (6) months of the return, the President must assent

the bill.

_6. Gazetting the Act:_

- On receiving Presidential Assent, the Clerk sends the Act to the Legislative Drafting Division.

- Legislative Drafting finalises the Act by affixing the Assent Date and Clause/Section numbers.

- Final Bill sent to the Printer for publication in the Gazette as an Act of

Parliament.

- Act of Parliament is cited as a law of Ghana.