Speaker of Parliament, Kingsford Alban Sumana Bagbin, has declared that as long as he is alive, no one can transform parliament into an agent of the government.
Speaking at the launch of the Democracy Cup, an event commemorating 30 years of uninterrupted parliamentary democracy in Ghana, Bagbin highlighted the unique situation of Ghana’s 8th parliament, which, for the first time, does not have a clear majority.
According to him, this as an opportunity for more thoughtful discussions and better decisions.
“You’ve been told that our illustrious presidents all happened to have passed through my hands. Therefore, there’s no way anybody can push me aside and make Parliament an agent of government. It won’t happen while I’m alive,” he said.
He characterized Ghana’s hung parliament as a blessing rather than a curse, emphasizing the importance of deliberation and thoughtful consideration.
According to Bagbin, a hung parliament encourages lawmakers to focus on the substance of issues rather than simply relying on numerical superiority.
“I am proud to be part of this process of building the Parliament of Ghana since 1993, which has undoubtedly contributed significantly to enabling me to assume the honorable responsibility as Speaker of the first ever hung Parliament in Ghana. You can’t compare this Parliament to the others. This is a completely new game,” he stated.
Bagbin emphasized the need for a shift in mindset and parliamentary procedures to effectively navigate the dynamics of a hung parliament.
He acknowledged that traditional rules designed for a majoritarian system may not be applicable in this context, requiring a re-evaluation of legislative processes.
Asserting his commitment to upholding the independence and significance of parliament, Bagbin rejected any attempts to marginalize the institution.
Drawing on his extensive experience and interactions with Ghana’s presidents, he highlighted the pivotal role of parliament in governance and vowed to ensure its autonomy.
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Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS
