Former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central constituency, Lawyer Inusah Fuseini, has expressed little surprise at the president-elect’s decision to nominate the Right Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as Speaker of the 9th Parliament, citing his track record in the 8th Parliament. Lawyer Fuseini highlighted that, given the seniority and experience Honourable Bagbin has accumulated over decades, he was the standout candidate for the position, regardless of other contenders.
“Speaker Bagbin was in pole position, judging from the work he did in the 8th Parliament. So even if there were other suitors for the position, Speaker Bagbin stood tall. He has a wealth of experience,” he remarked.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr. Fuseini reiterated that Speaker Bagbin’s political journey spans from 1992 to the present, during which he has served in various critical roles, including Member of Parliament, Minority Leader, Majority Leader, Deputy Speaker, and Speaker. Lawyer Fuseini noted that Honourable Bagbin’s potential to serve a second consecutive term as Speaker is unprecedented, setting a new record in Ghana’s parliamentary history, as all previous Speakers had served only one term.
“From 1992 till date, he has played key roles in Parliament—from Member of Parliament to Minority Leader, to Majority Leader, to Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and then Speaker of Parliament. Speaker Bagbin is also setting a record, and I don’t think this record will be broken for a very long time. He’s likely to be maintained as Speaker from January 7, which will mark his second term. That’s a record because all other Speakers have served only one term,” he stated.
He also emphasized that the Speaker’s leadership would play a crucial role in shaping the legislative agenda of the incoming Mahama administration. Despite the anticipated overwhelming majority in the next Parliament, the former MP pointed out that the minority’s voice must remain vital in the decision-making process, underlining the importance of inclusivity in parliamentary discussions. He stressed that for legislation, policies, and debates to reflect the will of all Ghanaians, the Right Honourable Alban Bagbin must ensure that the views of the minority are considered. This, he explained, would enhance the democratic process and allow for a more balanced approach to governance.
“It means that, at any time debate is happening in the House, at any time policy is being considered on the floor of the House, or at any time legislation is being discussed, he must go out of his way to invite the minority to speak on the matter,” he said. “It’s not a given that when you have a two-thirds majority, the minority will cease to exist. We’ve gone through this route before.”
He called for collective efforts to support President Mahama’s administration in delivering on its promises to the Ghanaian people, adding that cooperation across party lines would be essential to achieving the country’s developmental goals. “I just think that we should all put up our best to make sure that President John Dramani Mahama is able to deliver his mandate for the benefit of the people of this country,” he concluded.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com|101.1 MHZ|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
