Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has once again been elected to the high office of Speaker of Parliament.
He was sworn in on January 7, 2025, after the Minority seconded the motion to have him lead the House amidst drama.
His endorsement for the Speaker role had been announced by President-elect John Dramani Mahama, who urged the NDC Caucus to support him.
Bagbin’s re-election cements his position as a key figure in Ghana’s parliamentary history, having served as Speaker during the 8th Parliament.
The proceedings began with Cassiel Ato Forson, the newly confirmed Majority Leader, moving the motion for Bagbin’s nomination.
“I move that Hon Alban Bagbin do take the chair of this House as the Speaker of the 9th Parliament,” Forson stated on the parliamentary floor.
The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, but not without notable drama.
Afenyo-Markin voiced concerns over the nomination process, citing what he described as a lack of adequate consultation by the President-elect in Bagbin’s endorsement.
But that was dismissed by the Clerk of Parliament, Ebenezer Djietror, who stated that the comments were irrelevant to the formalities of seconding the motion.
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo, subsequently administered the Oath of Office to Bagbin, officially confirming his position as Speaker.
In his acceptance speech, Bagbin called for unity and pledged to work impartially to ensure the smooth functioning of the House.
The event marks a significant moment in Ghana’s parliamentary history, as Bagbin continues to steer the affairs of a legislature dominated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which holds a strong majority.
