Bagbin Rallies First‑Time MPs in Vision for a People‑Centred Parliament

Bagbin Rallies First‑Time MPs in Vision for a People‑Centred Parliament

By Ernest Best Anane

Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, convened an informal engagement with newly elected Members of Parliament, marking the first step in a broader outreach that will later include senior legislators, the media and the public through televised sessions. The meeting, held at the Speaker’s office, was intended to foster collaboration, open dialogue and embed a culture of transparency within the legislature.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Bagbin stressed the importance of a democratic ethos grounded in integrity, civility and active participation.

He called for the establishment of a mentorship programme that would pair experienced lawmakers with first‑time MPs, preserving institutional memory and easing the transition into parliamentary work. “Parliament has matured from rigid, confrontational partisanship toward a more cooperative multiparty environment,” he said. “This shift requires us to uphold our party values while keeping the national interest at the heart of our service.

The Speaker warned that partisanship becomes detrimental only when misused. “Ghana has consciously chosen a multiparty system, and differing viewpoints are essential to its strength,” he added, urging legislators to view divergent opinions as a source of collective strength rather than division.

Mr. Bagbin reminded the new MPs of the distinction between Parliament as an institution and the role of the individual member, encouraging them to specialise in specific legislative areas, particularly committee work.

According to him, the engine of Parliament is committee business, and that only through diligent research, preparation and participation can MPs deliver meaningful representation at both committee and plenary levels.”

Addressing constitutional matters, the Speaker clarified misconceptions about parliamentary privileges and immunities, explaining that these protections exist to safeguard the people’s voice, not to grant personal favour. He also expressed concern over neglected provisions concerning the welfare of local assembly members and pledged to revitalise structures that strengthen decentralisation. “Parliament, not the Executive, must constitutionally determine the allocation of funds such as the District Assemblies Common Fund,” he asserted.

Mr. Bagbin expressed his aspiration for Ghana’s Parliament to become a globally admired institution, befitting a nation positioned at the world’s geographic centre. He urged MPs to embrace unity in diversity, reject narratives that sow division, and to take pride in the country’s parliamentary dress as a symbol of cultural heritage.

The Speaker concluded by thanking the first‑time legislators for their contributions in recent sessions and assuring them of continuous support as they grow in leadership, ethics and legislative excellence.

He disclosed that the informal session is expected to be the first of a series aimed at deepening collaboration across the political spectrum and reinforcing a people‑centred Parliament.