The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has said the practice of Members of Parliament decently dressed in traditional attire led by the Speaker is long overdue and Ghanaians accept representation of the people to include representation of the full identity of the Ghanaian culture, tradition, and more importantly their dress code.
Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin who was dressed in traditional attire for the first meeting in 2022 said “I am glad that this decision accords with some of the propositions of the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and the other founding members of the Parliament of the First Republic. The dominant dress code of members of the National Assemblies of independent Ghana was a native costume. The Speaker of the first Parliament of the First Republic of the Country – 1960 to 1965 – Rt Hon Joseph Richard Asiedu appreciated and practiced it“.
He howeverinvited all MPs and Ghanaians to wear Ghana, grow Ghana, eat Ghana, brand Ghana, and transform Ghana, adding, “From now I want to see more Members appear in Parliament decently adorned in traditional dress.”
The speaker said “Hon Members, the robe, i. e the long garment, the headgear, and bib, constitute the ceremonial dress of the Speaker. This ceremonial dress is worn to distinguish the Speaker from members and to reflect the pomp and pageantry of special national occasions. It was therefore meant to be worn on only those special occasions. The ceremonial dress is not meant to be the daily apparel of the Speaker. Even the British have long abandoned this dress code. Ghana has long abandoned only the headgear and the bib. Hon Members, I assure you, we are not on a walk in the park in this journey of renaissance and transformation. We will not walk alone in this matter. We have a lot of followers and supporters. “
He called on members to dig deep into the wealth of their innate wisdom and let them do the work together in peace, joy, love, and respect for the diversity of cultures, traditions, and way of dressing in the country and all that leaders, particularly the Whip and himself must ensure is to enforce the rule of prim, prompt and decent dressing in the House.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/ Kofi Atakora
