Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has described the 30 years of Ghana’s Multiparty Constitutional Democracy as a remarkable achievement.
He said this is a historic milestone and further intimated it is an opportunity for Ghanaians to remember where the country came from, examine and evaluate the journey, the challenges and the opportunities, the problems and solutions and map out the way forward.
He stressed this has never happened before and after Ghana attained Independence in 1957.
“It’s an opportunity for us at least not just to be singing on daily basis the messages of sorrows but at least some songs of praise to motivate us to do better” he emphasized.
The Speaker made these remarks during a press soiree in Tamale in the Northern Region on Sunday, June 11, as part of a weeklong tour of the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions.
To enhance Ghana’s Parliamentary Democracy, the Speaker disclosed a department known as ‘Citizens Bureau’ has been created for the public and members of the Civil Society Groups to obtain any kind information from Parliament.
He stated this is aimed at enhancing transparency and openness of parliamentary practice in the country.
He added democracy is not just about good governance but making it more participatory and inclusive as much as possible.
“It is not just those who are elected to go and sit in the house but all of you must be involved. The only difference is that, because we take your mandate, we’re given additional rights call privileges and immunities that you don’t have; so whilst a Member of Parliament can stand in the floor and say anything and nobody can take it out to any court, you may not have that immunity” Mr. Bagbin emphasized.
In view of this, the Speaker of Parliament noted the media have a significant role to play in advancing growth and development in the country.
“It’s not a mantra that the media is the fourth arm of the governance of the country, it is the reality, without the media there will no government, no democracy, it will be something else.”
