The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has charged new Members of Parliament to prioritise the national interest over partisan politics in order to succeed as true representatives of the people of Ghana in the lawmaking chamber.
Addressing an orientation session for 115 new and four returnee MPs in Accra, Speaker Bagbin said putting Ghana above political party aspirations would go a long way to guarantee success and sustain the political careers of the new legislators.
According Mr Bagbin who has been in public service as an MP and Speaker for the past 32 years, building relationships across the aisle was a habit MPs needs to cultivate to make them an enduring force during their time in the House.
Speaker Bagbin advised the new members not to associate themselves with personalities in their political leaderships, but rather position themselves to work with any administration.
“Those who really take Ghana first advance in politics than those who are extremely partisan,” …. “When you are extremely partisan , you may ascend in a regime but in the next one, you collapse.”, Mr Bagbin said.
He explained that the reason for the collapse was that MPs would be seen to “identify themselves with one personality who might be the leader” and “after that leader, you are not relevant again”.
He said it was not merely a challenge for the new legislators but for the country entirely.
The Speaker dedicated portions of his speech to remind the MPs that as role models, they were to behave in a manner befitting of their title as “Honourable members”. Their conduct will be in the limelight in the discharge of their duties, he reminded them.
Mr. Bagbin attended the orientation together with the Deputy Speakers, Deputy Leader Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Leader Afenyo-Markin of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
All speakers at the event struck a conciliatory tone, urging their new colleagues to work across the aisle to achieve success.
