The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has told Ghanaians that Parliament, under his leadership, will not shirk its obligations.
He stated that he was aware of the imperatives of existing and evolving challenges that government would address on behalf of the citizenry.
These involve concerns of segregation, race, insecurity, debt overhang, malnutrition, and sub-regional unrest, as well as global issues of isolationism, civil war, discrimination, and displacement, as well as a raging health pandemic that had become the new standard.
Mr Bagbin made the assurance during a thanksgiving mass in his hometown Sombo in the Upper West Region’s Nadowli-Kaleo District to commemorate his election as Speaker of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
The Speaker of Parliament then appealed to all Ghanaians for tolerance and empathy, stating, “Criticism is healthy, however… feel free to critique when the situation warrants it, but do so first by trying to clarify the problems at stake and the changes around them.”
He expressed confidence that all Ghanaians would continue to exhibit tolerance and courage as they journeyed together along the uncharted road embodied by the new Ghanaian parliament, adding that achievement would crown their initiative.
Mr Bagbin said that he viewed the responsibility placed upon him as a formidable challenge and that all he could do now was pray incessantly for God’s divine guidance and wisdom, peace of thought and discernment, and an open heart to receive sound counsel in carrying out his duties and responsibilities to Ghanaians.
He said that God had called him over three decades earlier to serve his people and had begun to extend his call to serve to include the whole nation, which is why he felt it was appropriate to return to his people, in whose faith he grew to become what he was today, to express gratitude to them and his maker for the abundant blessings.
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The Speaker said that with his victory, he anticipates a greater convergence of Parliament and civil society, as well as an increased check on government to ensure it acts in the best interests of the Ghanaian citizens.
The Lord desires that Parliament prioritize the interests of Ghanaians and reinforce structures rather than people, as shown by the recent election of a hanged Parliament and a Speaker who is not a member of the ruling government.
“It comes with a tremendous burden—a responsibility to uphold the executive and legislative checks and balances, a responsibility to keep government responsible for its actions, and a responsibility to strike a compromise between political party interests and national interests,” Mr Bagbin said.
The Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, Missionary of Africa and Catholic Bishop of Wa, who delivered the thanksgiving sermon, expressed gratitude to God for continuing to elevate Mr Bagbin to represent his citizens and nation in general.
He prayed for him, that his reputation would be bolstered by his catholic faith, that he would speak for the voiceless during legislative debates.
The Speaker was accompanied to the Upper West Region by Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader in Parliament, and other members of Parliament and National Democratic Congress bigwigs.
SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
