By Iddi Yire
Accra, Jan 6, GNA – Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has delivered his farewell address to the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, ahead of its dissolution at midnight of January 6.
Mr Bagbin has been renominated by President-elect John Dramani Mahama for election by Members of Parliament (MPs) as the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament for a second four-year tenure.
“Indeed, it is with a great sense of humility, gratitude, reflection and hope that I, through you, address the people of Ghana today as we draw the curtain on the life of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic,” Speaker Bagbin said.
In his address to the Eighth Parliament prior to its dissolution, he said the Eighth Parliament had 399 sittings including that of Monday.
“We were able to pass 60 bills out of 100 that were presented to the House,” he said.
Of the 100 Bills, 22 of them were sitting before Committees of the House, six were at second reading and four at consideration stage.
Eight of them were withdrawn by the sponsors, he noted.
“Out of the 60 Bills that were passed, five were primary bills, setting the baseline record of primary Bills in Ghana.”
The Speaker mentioned the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which did not receive the assent of the President.
He said the House passed a very important law on the Public Financial Management of the country, and on Criminal Offences Amendment Bills.
Speaker Bagbin said the Eighth Parliament, which had been unique in its composition and historic in its journey, would remain a testament to the resilience of Ghana’s democratic traditions and the collective spirit of Ghanaians.
Along the way, the House lost two of its members – Mr Philip Atta Basoah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kumawu, and Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, MP for Ejisu.
“Over the past four years, we have together navigated uncharted waters.”
He said the Eighth Parliament, distinguished by its equal representation between the two major political parties, stood as a bold experiment in collaboration and consensus building.
“Together, we broke barriers, setting new benchmarks in parliamentary openness, accountability, transparency and inclusivity.
“On your behalf, I say to God be the glory. Honourable Members, when you graciously elected me as a Speaker of this Parliament in the early hours of 7th January 2021, I came to take the chair with no doubt in my mind that Ghanaians from the verdict in the elections of 2020 were calling on Parliament to work in harmony for the greater good of all,” the Speaker said.
He recalled at the genesis of his tenure of Office, he urged members of the House to prioritize consultation, accommodation and consensus building on matters of public interest.
“… Honourable Members may I recall that I advised the 114 first-time Members to remember at all times that you lead your people best by serving them with respect, with humility and with diligence, and that ultimately responsibility for having a successful career in this House rests with you”.
“Honourable Members, I must say some of you heeded this call and have been rewarded with a new term in Parliament at the just-ended elections.”
“To those of you who have been privileged to return to the Ninth Parliament, I repeat the prayer I said four years ago. May your career in this House be as long and as progressive as mine has been.”
“And I hope first-time Members- elect who may be watching today’s proceedings will take a cue and bear in mind that the Day of Accountability to the People is a short four years from tomorrow, the 7th of January 2025.”
GNA