The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has officially inaugurated the Management Committee of the Parliamentary Friendship Association, signaling a renewed drive toward deepening Ghana’s parliamentary diplomacy and global engagement.
In his keynote address at the inauguration ceremony, the Speaker described the establishment of the committee as a pivotal step in Parliament’s commitment to institutionalizing and enhancing soft diplomacy through structured and impactful Parliamentary Friendship Associations. He emphasized that the associations must be more than ceremonial bodies or platforms for travel opportunities, calling instead for strategic engagement and measurable results.
“The formation of this committee is a critical milestone in our continuous efforts to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy,” the Speaker noted. “Friendship Associations must operate with transparency, clear structure, and strategic outcomes.”
The Majority Leader, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, echoed the Speaker’s sentiments, stressing that the associations should play an active and visible role in strengthening bilateral relations. “We want to see reports from these associations presented on the floor of Parliament,” he urged. “They must be responsive in times of celebration or crisis, whether by recognizing national events of partner countries or expressing solidarity in times of disaster.”
Representing the Minority Leadership, the 2nd Deputy Minority Whip, Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib, reiterated the global relevance of parliamentary friendship groups. Speaking on behalf of the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, he emphasized that such associations must lead to tangible outcomes that benefit Ghana’s Parliament. “They must not remain ceremonial,” he said. “They must foster real partnerships, networks, and opportunities.”
The diplomatic community was also represented at the event, with the Ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana, H.E. Maher Kheir, encouraging the committee to take its role seriously and ensure productive engagements that strengthen diplomatic ties.
Chairperson of the newly inaugurated Management Committee, Hon. Ricketts-Hagan, expressed the committee’s resolve to fulfill its mandate with dedication. “We are committed to bringing renewed hope to the friendship associations and ensuring they operate efficiently and with purpose,” he stated.
Highlighting the importance of the committee’s role, Mr. Camillo Pwamang, Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Management Services, noted that by the end of the Eighth Parliament, forty (40) friendship associations had been established. Following a directive from the Speaker, two more were added in the Ninth Parliament, bringing the current total to forty-two (42).
Mr. Pwamang concluded that in an era of increasingly complex international relations, parliamentary diplomacy plays a vital role, and Ghana’s Parliament must continue to leverage these associations to foster cooperation and build international goodwill.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
