Outgoing Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has urged the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to retain the current Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, in the 9th Parliament.
According to Mr. Afenyo-Markin, the institutional empowerment achieved under Speaker Bagbin’s leadership over the past four years has been unparalleled. He emphasized that Mr. Bagbin’s background as a legislator contributed to his effective leadership, and it would not be fair to replace him with an outsider.
“Mr Speaker, the institutional empowerment you have given to Parliament is unmatched, and it is likely because we have you as speaker coming from within. Mr Speaker, I don’t know whether you will be retained or if a new person will be appointed… If they decide to maintain you, I know parliament will continue to benefit.
Mr Speaker, let me commend you for the four years of your leadership in this House. We may have had our disagreements, but it is clear that the welfare of members has been key to your leadership. Nobody can take that away from you,” he said on December 16, when the House reconvened after recess.
Lol 😂 Afenyo-Markin recommends that Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin be retained as Speaker in the next Parliament. pic.twitter.com/kuDXWwv9jq
— Aristotlektv (@aristotledada) December 16, 2024
The Effutu legislator noted that if a change is inevitable, the next government should choose a new Speaker who is already a member of Parliament.
“But should they decide to retire you, which I know they can do, if they choose to bring in a new Speaker, that person should come from within. We don’t want an outsider,” he added.
Monday’s sitting, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, marked the resumption of parliamentary activities as legislators prepared to debate pending matters ahead of the current Parliament’s closure.
The Majority Leader’s remarks come against the backdrop of recent tensions between his group and the Speaker. The conflict emerged when Speaker Bagbin declared four parliamentary seats vacant after their occupants opted to contest the 2024 general elections as independent candidates or under the ticket of another political party.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin subsequently sought the Supreme Court’s intervention, which overturned the Speaker’s ruling. However, Speaker Bagbin expressed displeasure over legislators resorting to the courts for matters that could have been addressed within Parliament, cautioning that such actions undermine the reputation of the Legislature.
Following the incident, Bagbin says he continues to see Afenyo-Markin as his son.
“You are still my son, it doesn’t matter” – Speaker Bagbin to Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Watch the live proceedings here: https://t.co/3q7w0fbabx#CitiVerify #ElectionBureau #ParliamentToday #GhanaPolls2024 pic.twitter.com/wewJ01cNgu
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) December 16, 2024
Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, a veteran politician and former Member of Parliament for Nadowli Kaleo on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made history as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic. In a tightly contested election, he secured 138 votes, narrowly defeating the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, who polled 136 votes.
Mr. Bagbin, who previously served as the Second Deputy Speaker in the 7th Parliament, has received wide recognition for his contributions to Ghana’s democracy and governance. In 2021, he was honored with the Parliamentarian of the Decade Award by the Millennium Excellence Foundation for his exceptional role in advancing national development and parliamentary democracy.
More recently, in 2024, Speaker Bagbin was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 6th Annual Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute for Leadership Studies (JAGILS) Awards Night in Alexandria, Virginia, for his lifelong dedication to public service and leadership.
As the incoming government prepares for the 9th Parliament, Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s call to retain Speaker Bagbin underscores the belief that his experience and leadership will continue to benefit Ghana’s Legislature.
