The Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin, has assured that as long as he remains the Speaker, he will ensure that the right things are done to satisfy the aspirations and expectations of the people with respect to political conduct and governance.
According to him, the yearnings of the citizenry to have solutions to the challenges that confront them on the personal and at the national level on a daily basis, can never be lost on him now as a Speaker since he can personally identify with those challenges; himself, haven risen through these humble beginnings to his present position as the Speaker of Parliament.
“Problems of inequality, a raging health pandemic that has become the new normal, the state of deprivation, instability in the sub-region, global problems of isolationism, civil strife, discrimination, migration challenges among others, continue to confront us all as a people. I can assure you that the Parliament of Ghana, under my leadership, will not shirk its responsibility when it comes to these issues,” Mr. Speaker said.
Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin made the remark in a keynote address at a thanksgiving mass at his birth place at Sombo, in the Nadowli Kaleo constituency in the Upper West region, to celebrate his successful election as the 8th Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana.
The Speaker, however urged Ghanaians to be patient with them and understand the processes as they go through the processes to ensure that their aspirations and expectations are fulfilled.
“What we will want from all Ghanaians is patience and understanding. Criticism is good, so feel free to criticize when the need arises, but do so by first seeking to understand the issues at stake and the developments in relation to them. This is because what meets the eye is not always what the real issue is,” he explained.
The Right Honourable Speaker is the first Ghanaian Speaker to be elected outside the party of the ruling government and the first Speaker in the Fourth Republic to superintend over a hung parliament of equal number of seats between the two main political parties of 137 seats for the ruling NPP and 137 seats for the opposition NDC, with one independent candidate who has joined the ruling party to form the Majority Group.
This has been classified as a novelty in the country’s history and the 8th Parliament has further been marked as a tipping point for the country’s democratic experimentation and hence the high expectation of the people for this Parliament to live up to expectation and to justify the confidence placed in them.
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, who joined the Speaker for the thanks giving service, indicated that the journey in the 8th Parliament so far has not been easy for him and the Speaker since the expectation of the people has been huge and daunting.
He however added that, it is only the Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin, who has been prepared by God to navigate the difficult situation they country finds itself at this time of a hung Parliament and an Executive President from a different political party.
“It has not been easy for me personally, neither has it been for Mr. Speaker. To the extent that some have had to even question our reputation and integrity even as we walk forward. But let them be reminded that I am only successful as the Minority Leader, to the extent that I can wax and influence minimum cooperation from the Majority, not standing alone.
“Mr. Speaker again, that reminds me that you are Speaker of a hung Parliament, 137:137 plus 1. Mr. Speaker, as Naa Seidu captured it; your task is unique, at the same time challenging and daunting. You are Speaker to a Parliament which is 137:137, with an Executive President from a different political party.
“It is only you that can help navigate Ghana through the difficult waters of cooperation and compromises in the best interest of Ghana and in the best of the pursuit of the public interest of Ghana,” said, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
