The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has begun a weeklong working tour of the North East, Northern and Savannah Regions to interact with the Chiefs and people in the northern ecological zone as part of activities to commemorate 30 years of Ghana’s uninterrupted Parliamentary Democracy under the fourth Republic.
The 30th Anniversary is celebrated on the theme: “Thirty (30) years of Parliamentary Democracy Under the Fourth Republic; The Journey thus far”.
The Speaker described the three decades of uninterrupted Parliamentary practice as a remarkable achievement worthy of celebration.
Addressing the Nayiri, the Speaker said the celebration is an opportunity to take stock of progress made thus far under the fourth democratic dispensation.
He stressed this is a period for Ghanaians to examine and evaluate the journey, the challenges and the opportunities, the problems and solutions and map out the way forward.
Mr. Bagbin further called on the traditional leaders to offer ideas and wise counsel to consolidate the gains made in the past three decades.
“As your sons, who are in the farm now farming, we will draw your attention to how far we have gone, what are the challenges we’re meeting, what can we do together to improve on the situation for the benefit of everybody and make sure that at the end of the year, we have something substantial to improve on what we have now to make Ghana a better place to live in.
“We need your ideas, we need your wise counsel to guide us to do what will work better than what we have now and what will work to satisfy every Ghanaian” he added.
According to him, the tour is also aimed at enhancing public awareness on the 30th anniversary and to strengthen the parliamentary democracy of the country.
He stated the democracy must be transformed into an all inclusive and more participatory one for the benefit of all citizenry.
The delegation included Members of Parliament from the Northern, North East and Upper East Regions and senior staff of Parliament.
The Speaker is expected to visit the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya Naa Abukari II and the Yagbonwura on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
Peace
Mr. Alban Bagbin seized the opportunity to call for peace and unity among the people in the northern part of the country. He described the Nayiri as an epitome of peace and called on him to foster the longstanding peace and unity among the various ethnic groups in the area.
Naa Bohagu Mahamai Abdulai Shariga, for his part commended the Speaker of Parliament for the historic visit to the Mamprugu kingdom.
He said peace is the bedrock for development and assured of his unwavering commitment to promote peaceful coexistence among his subjects and other ethnic groups.
