Parliament of Ghana has resumed sitting for the second meeting of the first session of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, with the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, calling for an ethical and productive session.
In a forthright address to Members of Parliament (MPs), the Speaker called for a renewed commitment to parliamentary responsibility, ethical leadership, and prompt attention to national legislative priorities.
His speech, rich with praise, reprimand, and aspiration, captured the urgency of the tasks ahead and the broader expectations of the Ghanaian public.
Welcoming MPs back to the Chamber, Rt. Hon. Bagbin noted that while the recess offered rest and reflection, it also provided opportunities for MPs to participate in critical international conferences, network within the global parliamentary community, and embark on various oversight and capacity-building activities at home.
“I trust the recess has been restorative and afforded honourable members a time and space to engage with constituents and reflect on the onerous responsibilities ahead of us during this meeting. We are grateful to the Almighty God for his protection over our lives and for keeping us safe during the period of recess.”
Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
He emphasised that nearly all parliamentary committees had been engaged during the break, either through field visits or educational programmes, demonstrating Parliament’s continuous oversight and operational momentum even outside plenary sittings.
The Speaker highlighted significant work undertaken by committees during the recess. The Committee on Human Rights, for instance, visited the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to examine the general condition of the facility and engage both authorities and inmates.
Likewise, the Committee on Local Government toured integrated recycling and compost plants in the Oti and Volta Regions to assess the capacity and impact of these facilities on national sanitation and hygiene concerns.
Other committees—such as those on Roads and Transport, Education, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and Security and Intelligence—were also involved in activities aimed at strengthening governance and service delivery.
These engagements, the Speaker said, were commendable examples of MPs’ dedication to public service and indicative of Parliament’s commitment to holding the executive and other public institutions accountable. However, Speaker Bagbin stressed that the coming weeks would demand even more dedication and urgency.
“Given the long list of business before us in the course of this meeting, it is expected that committee work will intensify. I therefore urge chairpersons and members of committees to pay prompt attention to all referrals to ensure the timely submission of reports and swift action on matters brought before the house.”
Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
Efficient Use of Time
He further called for timely, strategic, and consistent programming of business by the leadership of the House to ensure efficient use of time, a public resource that he warned must not be wasted.
According to Speaker Bagbin, a packed legislative agenda awaits the House. Among the key bills and regulations expected to be laid or read during this session are the Ghana COCOBOD Amendment Bill, 2025.
The other three private members’ bills include the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, 2025; the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025.
Also expected are the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Regulations, 2025, and a total of 17 papers already ready for presentation.
Yet, the Speaker noted that the House was still awaiting a full list of proposed government business. He assured, however, that business would be admitted and addressed once ready.
In the same vein, he underscored the need for MPs to honour committee calendars and ensure that reports are not left shelved.
“These are not optional duties. They are the mandatory constitutional functions we have all sworn to perform,” he stressed, referencing Article 106(14) of the Constitution, which mandates that presidential bills must not be delayed in committees for more than three months—a rule he noted has not been consistently followed.
Zanetor Rawlings’ Insult
In a particularly emotional segment of his address, Rt. Hon. Bagbin expressed deep disappointment over the unresolved issue regarding an unparliamentary comment made against Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings during a prior sitting.
Despite being captured in the House with many members present and CCTV cameras operational, no member had been able to identify the individual responsible for the disparaging remarks.
“The person spoke not once, but twice. And none of you can identify the person who spoke. I am very disappointed. Very, very disappointed”.
Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
The Speaker described the incident as a failure of collective responsibility and mutual respect, warning that such lapses could happen to any member.
He assured that the matter would not be brushed aside and pledged to go the “full length” in implementing the law once the investigative report is concluded.
Additional matters expected to be addressed include the Ada Songor Lagoon salt mining challenges and the report of the adhoc committee investigating violent disorders that characterised the Appointments Committee meetings on January 30 and 31, 2025.
Also pending is the report of the ad hoc committee on the design of a pension scheme for MPs—another key area of internal legislative reform.
Beyond the immediate legislative agenda, the Speaker situated the work of Parliament in a broader national context. He said Ghana is currently grappling with economic hardship, rising social tensions, and widespread concern about the performance of public institutions.
Parliament, he stressed, must offer a form of leadership that is ethical, proactive, and inspirational.
“Parliament serves as one of the most impregnable pillars of Ghana’s democracy. Our resilience, vigilance, and the choices we make within the three walls will either sustain or flourish this time-tested democracy or derail it.
“The house is where power is legitimately held to hold persons in doubt of the trust of our people to account, where policy is examined and scrutinized, where the views, interests, and hopes of our constituents find structured expression”.
Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
He reminded MPs that their actions—both acts of commission and omission—are being closely watched by citizens whose lives are directly impacted by legislative decisions.
As such, he called on all members to approach this meeting with the seriousness it demands, placing national interest above partisanship and personal comfort. “We are here as an equal partner of the Executive to govern the people in accordance with the Constitution and the sovereign will of the people,” he affirmed.
The Speaker concluded his address with a passionate plea for unity, discipline, and efficiency. He reiterated the importance of upholding parliamentary integrity and preserving the institution’s historical legacy as a cornerstone of Ghanaian democracy.
“Our routine assemblage of plenary sessions in this House must not be mere formalities. We must respect each other. We must work together as members of the same family.”
Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
The upcoming weeks will be a crucial test of Parliament’s ability to fulfil its constitutional mandate in the face of increased political stakes and public scrutiny as the House resumes with a packed schedule that will last until the end of July—or, in extreme circumstances, into the first week of August.
READ ALSO: Importers and Exporters Back GoldBod’s Push to Stabilize the Cedi
