The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban S.K. Bagbin, has charged the 127 fresh members of Parliament to act as honourably as the “honourable title” that has been conferred on them.
The Speaker said that the legislature position is that of leadership, honour, privilege, trust and service, so the new members must make their characters and attitudes reflect such.
“I am particularly delighted to welcome the one hundred and twenty-seven fresh hands, who are assuming your seats as Members of this House for the first time. You have now earned the privilege to be addressed in this Chamber as “Honourable. And honourable you must be.”
“Whatever may have been your inspiration for choosing to embark on this path, I would like you to know that the position you now occupy as a Member of Parliament is a position of leadership, of honour, of privilege, of trust, and, above all, of service.”
He made the comments while congratulating the new MPs for their election into the House when he addressed the First Sitting of the Eight Parliament of Ghana last Friday.
Speaker Bagbin cautioned the 127 fresh hands that their constituents had reposed in them an enormous amount of confidence and trust in electing them to represent them and their interests in this House of the People of Ghana, and that they (MPs) have a reciprocal responsibility and obligation to serve them (constituents) and the nation with honour, and integrity.
“Remember at all times, that you lead your people best by serving them with respect, with humility, and with diligence,” he added.
Mr Bagbin said that his office, together with the Office of the Clerk of Parliament and the Parliamentary Service as a whole, stands ready to assist the new MPs with a range of services and resources, including training, necessary to make their transition into their new role as smooth as possible, and added that he was confident that their colleagues, who had been in the house for some time now, would also help them to learn as fast as they can, and have successful careers.
“However, the ultimate responsibility for having a successful career in this House rests with you,” the Speaker advised, and entreated them to chart the path to their successes on their own.
“My office, together with the Office of the Clerk of Parliament and the Parliamentary Service as a whole, stands ready to assist you with a range of services and resources, including training, necessary to make your transition into your new role as smooth as possible.
“I am also confident that you will find among your returning colleagues many who are able and willing to help you navigate and learn the ropes here as quickly as you can, so that you can contribute effectively to the business of this House and make an impact within the shortest possible time.
“Ultimately, responsibility for having a successful career in this House rests with you.”
Aside this, the Speaker Bagbin also touched on other issues, including what the people expect of the 8th Parliament of Ghana.
The Speaker said that the people of Ghana sent a loud and clear message to the political class, when they voted to deny both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) single-party control of the Legislative Branch.
“The score of 137 for NPP and 137 for NDC, with one independent, the decision of no Majority Party and no Minority Party, in Parliament, is a call for us to chart a new path; to embark on new ways of transacting Parliamentary business, which you know, or ought to know, is the business of the people,” he said, and urged the leadership of both sides to put their heads together to smoothen out any bottlenecks or challenges that may impede the conduct of business in the House.
The post Honourable you must be -Speaker Bagbin charges new MPs appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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