The 9th Parliament in its maiden sitting, has elected Speaker of the immediate past parliament, Alban Kingsford Bagbin for the second time in the legislature’s top job.
His nomination for speakership was widely expected to be accepted by the House.
Speaker Bagbin’s name was tabled for consideration by Majority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and seconded by Alexander Afenyo-Markin who is serving as Minority Leader after a brief stint as Leader of Government Business.
Following unanimous consent by the House, Mr. Bagbin was deemed duly elected during the midnight sitting.
He was sworn into office by the Chief Justice.
Mr. Bagbin makes history as the first speaker since Justice Daniel Francis Annan in 1997 to be retained in the nation’s third highest office.
He is hardly a new face in parliament. He has been in the House since the inception of the Fourth Republic and the 1st Parliament in January 1993.
Unlike this time, Mr. Bagbin’s election as speaker four years ago was unexpected. It was a product of defections from the then ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus, making him the first candidate of the opposition to be chosen as speaker.
Mr. Bagbin, who swore Members of Parliament-elect into office after taking his oath, thanked President-elect John Mahama for his support of his nomination. He also expressed gratitude to the House for keeping him in the respected office of speaker.
A lawyer by profession, Mr. Bagbin has served in several positions across the legislative and executive branches of government including Minority Leader and Minister of Health.
Before his election as speaker in 2021, he represented the people of Nadowli Kaleo in the Upper West Region.
