Speaker Bagbin Applauds UK–Ghana Ties, Seeks Support for Constitutional Reforms

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has praised the United Kingdom for its longstanding support to Ghana’s Parliament and called for deeper collaboration to advance democratic governance and constitutional reforms.

He made the remarks on Thursday, September 11, during a courtesy call by the UK’s Minister for International Development, Rt. Hon. Baroness Chapman, at Parliament House in Accra. The meeting was attended by representatives of state institutions and civil society organisations.

Speaker Bagbin described the visit as a celebration of the two countries’ shared democratic values and enduring friendship. He highlighted past collaborations with the UK Parliament, noting support from the former Department for International Development (now the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), which opened up the work of Ghana’s Public Accounts Committee and laid the groundwork for institutions such as the Parliamentary Training Institute and the Office for Budget and Fiscal Analysis.

“Today, thanks to that intervention, our Public Accounts Committee is not only open to the public but stands as one of the most vibrant and effective committees of the House,” Bagbin stated.

He further outlined ongoing institutional reforms in Parliament, including the creation of new standing committees and departments to boost public engagement, media outreach, and citizen participation.

Bagbin, however, identified constitutional limitations as a key challenge to Parliament’s effectiveness, stressing the urgency of reforms to strengthen its independence.

“What is holding us back is the hybrid we adopted in our constitution. We are happy the government is leading the country’s quest to reform and revise our 1992 Constitution. We hope once again our good partners like you will be supportive of our efforts to balance the arms of government properly, to make Parliament the true depository of democracy,” he emphasised.

He also appealed for collaboration in adopting modern technology and promoting gender inclusivity in governance.

“On behalf of the Parliament of Ghana, let me express our profound gratitude to the Government and people of the United Kingdom. Your partnership has been invaluable, and your continued support is deeply appreciated,” he said.

Baroness Chapman commended Ghana’s democratic progress and Parliament’s pivotal role in consolidating governance. She underscored the importance of openness, citizen engagement, and inclusivity, particularly in relation to women’s representation.

“The participation of women is one of the challenges facing parliaments across the world. We’ve been on a very long journey, and we’re not there yet. But we have made some progress, and we can perhaps discuss that one day as well,” she observed.

She further noted that legislatures must adapt to societal changes, pointing to the impact of social media and the growing demands of younger generations for accountability.

“Without democratic engagement from the people of our countries, hard democracies start to wither, and we must protect that, because it’s a very, very precious thing,” Baroness Chapman cautioned.

Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, also addressed the meeting, pledging to lead a constructive opposition. He hailed Speaker Bagbin as a pillar of experience whose leadership continues to inspire both sides of the House.

He recalled Bagbin’s instrumental role in rebuilding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) after its 2000 electoral defeat, which set the stage for the party’s return to power in 2008.

“When there is a history of resilience, you can only be inspired by that,” Afenyo-Markin said.

Reflecting on the challenges facing the Minority following their loss in the 2024 elections, he stressed the need to learn from history and focus on capacity building.

“The essence of politics is how you market yourself and get the people’s trust. So you can be uneducated, but once you come in, you are the people’s representative,” he noted, recalling his own early struggles in Parliament until colleagues mentored him on budget analysis.

The Minority Leader commended Ghana–UK parliamentary cooperation, especially training in data management, which he said had enhanced decision-making.

He also called for an end to the cycle of political vendettas between governments and their predecessors, urging instead a consensus on key governance priorities to improve the lives of citizens.