Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has humbly accepted his re-election as Speaker of Parliament for the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
“It is with great humility that I accept the high and privileged office of the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana,” Bagbin said in a speech delivered in parliament during the dissolution of the 8th parliament on January 6, 2025.
His journey to this point has been nothing short of extraordinary. Bagbin, a stalwart of Ghana’s political landscape, is the longest-serving legislator in the nation’s history, with over 28 years in Parliament.
Reflecting on this legacy, he acknowledged the unique challenges of his previous term, which saw a hung parliament for the first time in Ghana’s democratic era.
“I came to the Speakership of the Eighth Parliament with my experience as the longest legislator of the House.
“I now come to the Ninth Parliament not only with that background but with the experience of four years of speakership in a very difficult hung parliament,” he stated.
The Eighth Parliament was marked by intense debates, razor-thin decisions, and a heightened need for collaboration.
Yet, Bagbin’s steady hand as Speaker ensured that the House navigated these challenges without descending into chaos.
His leadership has been characterized by a commitment to consensus-building and a fierce defence of Ghana’s democratic principles.
“I promise to bring all these experiences to bear in guiding this House to perform its mandate with efficiency, diligence, and, above all, with a sense of being the bulwark of democracy in Ghana,” Bagbin assured his colleagues.
