Alban Bagbin urges committees to prioritize national interest

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on lawmakers to elevate the national interest above partisan considerations in their legislative and oversight duties. Speaking at the 2026 Annual Parliamentary Committees Leadership Programme in Accra, Bagbin emphasized that the effectiveness of the legislature is fundamentally tied to the quality and integrity of its committees. He cautioned that a Parliament with weak or overly partisan committees cannot fulfill its constitutional mandate, asserting that the strength of the institution should be measured by the quality of committee work rather than the volume of laws passed.

During the workshop, the Speaker outlined specific criteria for evaluating proposed legislation, urging committee members to focus on constitutional validity and practical enforceability rather than political gain. He specifically warned against the practice of rushing bills through the house, noting that such haste often leads to poorly crafted laws that can damage the reputation of the legislature. Bagbin further clarified the nature of parliamentary oversight, asserting that it should never be used as a tool for "witch-hunting" government officials or the opposition. Instead, he argued that oversight must be an objective process aimed at identifying and rectifying institutional weaknesses to improve public administration and service delivery.

Addressing the political dynamics within the house, the Speaker advocated for stronger consensus-building between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). He noted that effective committee leadership involves guiding deliberations toward decisions that serve the broader population and uphold public trust. The programme also featured contributions from Majority Leader James Agalga and former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who both reinforced the need for MPs to invest in their professional development. Bagbin concluded by encouraging members to embrace expert guidance in legislative drafting and to facilitate meaningful public participation to ensure that parliamentary outcomes reflect the needs of all Ghanaians.