Speaker Bagbin has transformed the 8th Parliament significantly

The 8th Parliament of Ghana under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (aka ASK Bagbin) has been historic and transformational so far.

The nomination and confirmation of Hon. Bagbin as the Speaker by the MPs on that fateful night of January 6, 2021 saw dramatic scenes in Parliament till the next morning of January 7, 2021.

The NPP MPs were fighting tooth and nail to maintain their favourite former Speaker Mike Oquaye. One NPP MP for Tema West constituency, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkrah had to disrupt the counting process by chewing some ballots after voting to thwart the whole Parliamentary proceedings on that day. However, the NDC Minority then of the 8th Parliament stood their grounds and got Speaker Bagbin confirmed!

Since January 7, 2021 till date, Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin has been able to bring about a lot of history-making and transformative changes to Parliament:

Change of dressing code to promote traditional wear

As soon as Speaker Bagbin assumed office in 2021, he unapologetically changed the dress code in Parliament by easing the old tradition of wearing Speaker’s gown during every sitting of the House.

Speaker Bagbin has consciously promoted various Ghanaian cultures across the length and breadth of the country through his Ghanaian traditional outfits in Parliament.

Rt. Hon. Bagbin is the first Speaker who has domesticated fashion from Ghana and that is commendable. Ghana has rich culture and touristic value, and the Speaker is showing this to the world. This singular act of the Speaker also seeks to promote unity in diversity among Ghanaians.

Parliament Citizen’s Bureau

To open up Parliamentary activities to the citizenry and win their trust in the political system, Mr. Speaker launched the Parliament’s Citizens’ Bureau. This Citizen’s Bureau seeks also to bridge the information gap between the institution of Parliament and the citizenry via key civil society organizations (CSOs). This is a forward-looking approach to strengthening our democratic experiment in the 4th Republic in particular.

New Standing Orders/Parliamentary reforms

As a hybrid democracy of both executive and parliamentary functions, Ghana’s Parliament has been relying heavily on its Standing Orders for Parliamentary proceedings. It was in the era of the Speaker that new Standing Orders with introduction of new Committees and changes to make the Standing Orders of Parliament more robust and stand the test of time.

Firmness and balanced decisions of the Speaker

Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin has shown, over the years as Speaker of the House, he is someone who cannot be dictated to by the other Arms of government e.g. the executive and Judiciary.

Some spectacular scenes witnessed under his leadership were those of controversial e-levy, disapproving the budget statement of the Akufo-Addo’s regime and most recently the declaration of seats for 4 MPs vacant due to infractions on Article 97 1(g) and (h), which has led to a Majority walkout and bringing about serious political dynamics in the House.

The Speaker in the discharge of his constitutional duties has done so with tact, firmness and fairness for the good of Ghana and Ghanaians.

Conclusion

The Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin has proven to be the right person for this sensitive hung 8th Parliament with equal MP strength from the dominant NPP and NDC Parties and the deciding Independent MP, Hon. Andrew Asiamah, who is caught by Article 97 1 (g) and (h) and has to vacant his independent seat in this 8th Parliament. Rt. Hon. ASK Bagbin has indeed made history and transformed the 8th Parliament significantly.