The Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has pledged to be fully committed to being fair and impartial as he takes office in the eighth Parliament.
He said the office he now occupies is an impartial, independent, and apolitical office, akin, in that regard, to the position of a Justice or Chief Justice, adding, “Just as a person with a known party affiliation like me could be appointed to the Supreme Court, so it is with the Speakership.”
Delivering his speech in the first meeting of the eight Parliament, Rt. Hon. Bagbin said What matters, above all, is that once appointed as a Chief Justice or Justice or elected as a Speaker, that person, regardless of his political past, must conduct himself or herself by the requirements and ethics of his or her new office and, as expressed in the Oath of that office, without fear or favor, affection or ill-will.
The speaker said he intends to live by the Oath he swore on the occasion of his election to this office, to respect, obey and abide by the will of the House.
He said “But I am also fully committed to being firm. Members must also reciprocity, respect, and abide by my rulings and instructions. When in disagreement, the Standing Orders of the House, has the answer. I will apply the authority of the House as symbolized by the Mace, to protect and defend the prerogatives, privileges, and immunities of Parliament, members and staff as provided under the laws of the country.”
“Let me at this juncture; acknowledge the many contributions made by my predecessors, in whose shoes I walk today. The Rt. Hon Justice Daniel Francis Annan laid a solid foundation to anchor the growth and development of parliamentary law, practice, and procedure in the Fourth Republican Parliament. I acknowledge with great appreciation and respect the contributions of Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey, Rt Hon Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes, Rt. Hon. Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, Rt. Hon. Edward Kobla Doe Adjaho and Rt Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye. I have worked with all these Speakers as a leader and a member of the Parliamentary Service Board, and I can attest to the tireless efforts every one of them made to consolidate, strengthen the Institution of Parliament, and build the capacity of members and staff of Parliament. I pledge to build on these achievements and to widen and deepen the frontiers of parliamentary governance even further.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kofi Atakora
