Tag: Speaker

Posted in General News

Coalition of CSOs working in government call on speaker Bagbin

Posted on by Kofi Tutu

A six member delegation from the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations working in the area of governance, has called on the Speaker of Parliament to explore ways by which Parliament and Civil Society can collaborate effectively to push the democratic development agenda of the country forward. The delegation was led by the Executive Director of Star Ghana Foundation, Ibrahim Tanko, who, on congratulating the Speaker on his election, recollected the many projects undertaken by Civil Society Organizations and Parliament in the past and expressed the hope of more collaborative efforts in the future.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rashid Draman outlined seven key issues that Civil Society expects Parliament to work on expeditiously. These include strengthening of the Parliamentary Training Institute, strengthening of the Legislative Drafting Unit of Parliament revision of the Standing Orders consensus building in Parliament, and negotiations and mediation in Parliament.

Speaker Bagbin emphasised that one of the key things he seeks to do during his tenure as Speaker is to create and maintain a bi-partisan Parliament which will work to maintain a balance of power among the various arms of government. The Speaker also emphasised the need for Members to work closely together, building consensus and putting the country first in all their deliberations and actions.

Members of the group that called on the Speaker are Ibrahim Tanko Executive Director Star Ghana Foundation, Dr. Kwesi Jonah,a fellow IDEG, Regina Amanfo from CDD, Beauty Emefa Narteh, Executive Director Ghana Anti-Corruption Coaltion, and Faruza Salisu a Programme Officer from Star Ghana Foundation.

Posted in General News

China congratulates speaker Bagbin on his Assumption of office

Posted on by Kofi Tutu

The Charge D Áffaires of the Chinese Embassy, Zhu Jing has delivered a congratulatory message from Chairman Of The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China H.E LI Zhanshu, and the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of the People’s Republic of China H.E WANG Yang, to the Speaker of the 8th Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on being elected as Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.

Mr. Jing was at the head of a three member delegation from the Chinese Embassy here in Accra. He described Speaker Bagbin as a long-time friend of China and expressed the hope that the Legislatures of Ghana and China will continue to collaborate closely for the mutual benefits of their two countries.

The MP for North Tongu and former Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa referred to the close relations between the Parliament of Ghana and China during the 7th Parliament where China sponsored a number of Training And Knowledge Exchange Programmes for the Members which helped in improving the skills of Members and expressed the hope that the Members of the 8th Parliament will have similar opportunities for interactions. He also commended China for being the first country to offer Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) and financial assistance to Ghana at the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Speaker Bagbin thanked China for the kind considerations and said China was always a close friend of Ghana and is currently one of Ghana’s best friends in the world, adding that Ghana intends to maintain that relationship. He also made reference to the COVID 19 and said it was a global pandemic which needs a global solution and called on world countries to treat it as such.

Speaker Bagbin said his aim is to strengthen the capacity of Members and Staff of Parliament, adding that he intends to superintend over a Parliament with a decentralised Speakership. He expressed the belief that for Parliament to develop and be at par with the Executive, it must have all its sections and systems working effectively and that is what he hopes to achieve.

Posted in Politics

Persons responsible for chaotic Speaker election must face consequences – Ablakwa

Posted on by Kofi Tutu

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wants persons whose actions disrupted the first proceedings in the 8th Parliament to face the consequences.

He said the incidents are “despicable” and none of it must be swept under the carpet as Parliament undergoes soul-searching over the developments.

Several unexpected incidents characterized the inauguration of the new Parliament on Thursday, January 7, 2021.

Apart from the NDC side of parliament sitting at the majority side in the chamber, there were several disruptions including snatching of ballot papers as well as the invasion of military personnel.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who was present in the House said in a post on social media that those behind the widely condemned actions should not be spared.

“There must be soul-searching and far-reaching consequences for the despicable scenes in Parliament over the last few hours. Nothing must be swept under the red carpet of the hallowed chamber when that time comes. Those who viciously assault our democracy must know there’s a heavy price to pay.”

The legislator further lauded the choice of Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as the new Speaker of Parliament indicating that having a Speaker from a political party other than the sitting president’s holds “great prospect [for] our democracy and parliamentary oversight.”

He further urged his colleague MPs to take advantage of the equal number of seats both the NPP and NDC have in Parliament to help rebuild the country’s democracy, fight corruption head on and confront executive impunity.

Read Okudzeto Ablakwa ‘s post below:

There must be soul searching and far reaching consequences for the despicable scenes in Parliament over the last few hours. Nothing must be swept under the red carpet of the hallowed chamber when that time comes. Those who viciously assault our democracy must know there’s a heavy price to pay.

For now, the epic victory of Ghana’s most decorated legislator, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as the first Speaker of the House from a different party of the sitting President must be well and truly celebrated for the great prospect it holds for our democracy and parliamentary oversight.

Coupled with the equal numerical strength of the two leading parties (at least for now), it can be expected that the era where the executive railroads and makes the legislature its appendage will be a relic of the past.

As I greatly commend my resilient NDC colleagues and our quietly courageous allies in the NPP who all fought hard to make this historic moment possible, let us remember it is not about our personal egos – it is all about the supreme national interest. The celebrations must now give way for the actual work to begin.

This ushers a golden dawn to rebuild our democracy, fight corruption head on, confront executive impunity, reconstruct an independent and respected legislature and put the real needs of the people first.

We must be unyielding, uncompromising and dogged in the pursuit of higher principles and the national interest.

Consensus building must not be a new euphemism for cutting deals and looking the other way when injustice is perpetrated against the Ghanaian people. We are all being watched keenly by many and shall not be spared nor forgiven.

For the first time, per the combined effects of Articles 103 (5)&(6) of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders 154, 155 & 156, we will have equal numbers at the various Standing and Select Committees where for example we can thoroughly and competitively scrutinize and recommend for rejection when necessary the President’s nominations for ministerial and other appointments if any of them are deemed unfit after vetting. So can the budget and other financial agreements if they are seen to undermine our collective interest be easily recommended for rejection at plenary. This obviously would not be the Parliament where deals such as Agyapa, Ameri, PDS, Oslo Chancery and others can be presented with cheeky ease.

Certainly, I will be the first to advocate that the power of the current parliamentary configuration should not make us needlessly obstructive or pompous. We have a country to build and many national challenges to address. MPs ought to be modest, magnanimous, studious, consultative and reflective in carrying out our duties in this watershed era.

Let us use this remarkable opportunity to advance the case of those of us who have always advocated for constitutional amendments to create a more potent legislative organ where majority of ministers do not have to be appointed from parliament and where parliament ceases to be subservient to the whimsical delights of the executive.

May MPs not squander this amazing opportunity and may posterity look back at the legislative business of this 8th Parliament and proclaim that this was the Ghanaian Parliament’s most treasured hour.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP, North Tongu)

Source: citinewsroom

Posted in General News

Alban Bagbin sworn in as new Speaker of Parliament

Posted on by Kofi Tutu

Immediate past Member of Parliament for the Nadowli Kaleo constituency, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has been sworn in as Speaker of Ghana’s 8th Parliament.

This comes after he was elected in a keenly contested election between himself and former Speaker, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye.

Alban Bagbin, who was the Second Deputy Speaker in the 7th Parliament was nominated by his political party –the National Democratic Congress (NDC)– for the position.

In his acceptance speech, Alban Bagbin pledged to discharge his duties wholeheartedly and in service to all Ghanaians.

“I will submit myself to the will of this House and pledge to serve my dear country, to serve you and to serve all Ghanaians faithfully to the best of my ability,” he said.

He further indicated his readiness to use his experience and skill, acquired within the 28-year period he served in Parliament, to help advance the cause of the lawmaking body.

“I will also contentiously discharge my duties as the Speaker of this Parliament. I want to promise wholeheartedly to put to the disposal of this country the store of knowledge, enough experience and the huge data bank that I have accumulated over the 28 years that I have been a member of this House,” Alban Bagbin said.

About Alban Bagbin

Born on September 24, 1957, at Sombo in the Upper West Region, Mr. Bagbin is a graduate of the University of Ghana (1977-1980) and the Ghana School of Law (1980 -1982). He holds an Executive Masters in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

His parents were Mr. Sansunni Bagbin and Mrs Margaret B. Bagbin who were both peasant farmers. He is the fourth child of nine children of the Margaret Bagbin and the thirteenth of the Bagbin family.

Mr. Bagbin is married to Mrs Alice Adjua Yornas Bagbin, the Programme Officer of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) office in Ghana.

Education
The former Majority Leader started schooling at an early age at the Roman Catholic Primary School, Sombo, did his second cycle education at Wa Secondary School and ended at the Tamale Secondary School, where he earned his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates before entering the University of Ghana in 1977.

Working Life
His working life experience took him to a number of establishments after school, and this undoubtedly enabled him to garner a lot of experiences that he brings to bear in his current political role.

From 1980 to 1982, he worked at the Bureau of Statistics and Statistical Service as the acting Secretary to the Statistical Service Board while between 1982 and 1983; he worked as Personnel Manager of the erstwhile State Hotels Corporation (Ambassador /Continental Hotels) before sojourning to Libya to teach English at the Suk Juma Secondary School, Tripoli.

When he returned from Libya in 1986, Mr. Bagbin joined the Akyem Chambers, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public, as a partner. Between 1989 and 1992, he was appointed an external solicitor of the Credit Unions Association of Ghana (CUA), Nii Ngleshie family of James Town and a number of private business firms in Accra.

From 1993 to date, the Former Majority Leader has been a partner of the Law Trust Company, a firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public.

Parliament
Bagbin has held a number of positions in Parliament since 1994 and capped his lawmaking career with the ultimate, the Majority Leader and Leader of the House.

In the first Parliament of the Fourth Republic, he was made the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Subsidiary Legislation and Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy and Member of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.

From 1995 to date, Mr. Bagbin has been a member of a group known as Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and member of the international Law and Human Rights Programme of the PGA.

From 1996 to 2001, he was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Restructuring of the Water Sector (Ministry of Works and Housing) while between 1997 and 2001, he was a member of the National Media Commission.

In the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mr. Bagbin was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with oversight responsibilities for the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Electoral Commission, National Commission on Civic Education, Office of Parliament and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. He was also the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 2001 to 2005. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament.