Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin met with the Northern Region Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Tamale to discuss Parliament’s role in ensuring peaceful elections and addressing legislative challenges.
This engagement was part of activities leading up to a seminal lecture organized by the Office of the Speaker to celebrate 30 years of Parliament and Ghana’s democracy.
Speaker Bagbin assured Journalists of Parliament’s commitment to a peaceful electoral process, emphasizing that power ultimately lies with the people. “Those who make utterances that they won’t hand over power will have no choice but to do so because the Constitution says so, and the power is with the people,” he stated.
Prof. Kwesi Aning, a former Director of the Faculty of Academic Affairs & Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre and a current security consultant, urged stakeholders to be mindful of their language during campaigns, warning against incitement and recklessness as the December elections approach.
Abdul Hayi Moomen, formerly of GBC, raised concerns about media ethics and called for licensing journalists to address ethical lapses. Speaker Bagbin acknowledged the challenges posed by new media but agreed on the need for regulations to ensure that only qualified journalists practice.
Kofi Bentil, in his contribution, highlighted the difficulties of restricting new media to a few due to its expansive nature but emphasized the importance of continuous training to equip journalists with modern skills and technologies. He stressed that the media’s role is crucial and must be safeguarded to maintain its place in society.
Speaker Bagbin also discussed the hurdles in passing the Affirmative Action Act and explained the rigorous process behind passing controversial bills, including scrutiny, stakeholder engagement, and budget approvals.
He underscored that the legislative process considers diverse perspectives, even on contentious bills.
The engagement underscored Parliament’s commitment to transparency as Ghana marks three decades of democracy. The upcoming lecture will further reflect on the evolution of Ghana’s democracy and Parliament’s role in upholding constitutional governance.
