The Speaker of the ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, Rt. Honorable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has today, October 21, 2025, sworn in two members of parliament for the Tamale Central constituency and the Akwatia constituency.
Representing the Tamale Central constituency is Hon. Professor Alidu Mahama Seidu, professor of political science and executive secretary of the Water Resource Commission, and for the Akwatia constituency is Hon. Bernard Bediako.
Both members of parliament were elected through bye-elections after the demise of Hon. Ernest Yaw Kumi, former member of parliament for Akwatia, and also the demise of Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohamed, former member of parliament for Tamale Central and former minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
After the two newly elected members had recited the oath of allegiance and the oath of a member of parliament, the Speaker stated that he will hold them to the oaths they had sworn.
“I will hold you to two of the oaths that you have sworn, particularly the one where you clearly stated that you will faithfully and conscientiously discharge the duties of a member of parliament.”
Rt. Honorable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of the ninth Parliament of Ghana
Rt. Hon. Bagbin also emphasized the need for them to be equipped with the necessary documents to help them learn the practices of the august house.
Metaphorically, he stated that “I will first give you the hoe and the cutlass. You do not go to your farm without the hoe or the cutlass.” By this, the speaker was referring to the constitution and the standing orders of parliament.
The Speaker emphasized that a proper performance of their duties in the House of Parliament hinges on how well they know the standing orders of Parliament and the constitution.
He then handed these two documents to the two newly sworn-in members, noting that they will get some more materials from the office of the Clerk of Parliament.
He further emphasized that the two members were starting a new beginning, advising them to treat it as though they were starting school from crèche.
“There is a lot that you have to learn. Whether you are a professor, or you are a farmer, or you are from anywhere, you have come to a new school, and that school starts from creche.
“You are starting from the crèche today. Please do not assume that because of your capacity in other areas, you know it. You do not know it.”
Rt. Honorable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of the ninth Parliament of Ghana
The Rt. Hon. Speaker emphasized that even with his 33 years of experience in the parliament house as both a member of parliament and speaker, he still refers to the constitution and the standing orders every day.
He encouraged them to respect their senior members of parliament. However, he cautioned that they should not be intimidated by any antics of the senior members, emphasizing that with proper understanding of the standing orders and the constitution, they could perform better than the senior members.
The Rt. Hon. Bagbin also noted that today happened to be the first time they happened to have the full complement of the members of the house, which is 276, instead of the previous 275.
“Honorable Members, on your behalf, I warmly welcome the two freshest Members of Parliament to our midst, and we are happy now to have the full complement of the House. We now have 276 Members of Parliament. Please, the number is no longer 275; we have 276.”
Rt. Honorable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Speaker of the ninth Parliament of Ghana
He also noted that any increment in the number of members of parliament will mean that some space will have to be created for the additional person(s).
However, he advised that “before this number increases, you must, as a country, as a republic, start looking for a proper place; if not, the integrity of this structure is being undermined.”
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