The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has lauded the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for his leadership during the 8th Parliament.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Monday, December 17, Afenyo-Markin commended Bagbin’s efforts in prioritizing the welfare of members and enhancing the institution’s empowerment.
“Mr. Speaker, let me commend you for the four years of your leadership in this House. We may have had our disagreements, but it is clear that the welfare of members has been key to your leadership. Nobody can take that away from you,” he remarked.
The Effutu MP emphasized that Bagbin’s leadership has been instrumental due to his background as a long-serving member of Parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, the institutional empowerment you have given to Parliament is unmatched, and it is likely because we have you as Speaker coming from within,” Afenyo-Markin added.
While advocating for Bagbin’s retention in the 9th Parliament, Afenyo-Markin expressed hope that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would maintain him as Speaker. However, he noted that if the party chooses to appoint a new Speaker, it should be someone from within Parliament who understands its operations.
“If they decide to maintain you, I know Parliament will continue to benefit. But should they decide to retire you, which I know they can do, if they choose to bring in a new Speaker, that person should come from within. We don’t want an outsider,” he stated.
The remarks were made during Monday’s sitting at the Accra International Conference Centre, where Parliament convened to address pending matters before the closure of the 8th Parliament.