9th Parliament inaugurated, Bagbin, Asiamah re-elected Speaker and 2nd Deputy, Ahiafor joins as 1st Deputy Speaker
Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of the 8th Parliament, has been re-elected and sworn in as the Speaker of 9th Parliament.
Mr Bagbin was the only candidate whose name was put forward for the position and enjoyed an overwhelming endorsement by both sides of the House.
His nomination was moved by the Majority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who read out his biography.
“I move that Hon Alban Bagbin do take the chair of this House as the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament,” Dr Forson stated.
The motion was then seconded by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who earlier tried to raise preliminary objection over the nomination of Mr Bagbin.
However, the preliminary objection was strongly objected to by Majority members, particularly the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who argued that seconding a motion did not call for a debate or comment in line with the Standing Orders of Parliament.
He was subsequently overruled by the acting Clerk-to-Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, who chaired the election process of the Speaker.
Mr Djietror later requested the sponsors of the nominee to conduct him into the Chamber.
He was subsequently ushered jointly by Dr Forson and Mr Afenyo-Markin into the Chamber where the colourful Speaker’s robe was placed on him by the Clerk-to-Parliament.
Mr Djietror then invited the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, to proceed to administer the oath of allegiance and the Speaker’s oath to Mr Bagbin.
The Speaker’s nomination was based on a recommendation by the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, who mandated the Majority Caucus to put forward his name.
The swearing-in ceremony came in ahead of the inauguration of the current Parliament that has the National Democratic Congress taking the Majority side with 183 members as against 88 of the New Patriotic Party (NDC).
The inaugural ceremony, which started at exactly five minutes past midnight, attracted a number of dignitaries, including Speakers from other countries and ECOWAS.
For the First Deputy Speaker, the Majority Chief Whip, Kwame Governs Agbodza, nominated the MP for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor, and read out his biography.
Following such nomination, which was unopposed, the Speaker announced him as duly elected.
He was later assisted to wear the cassock of the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
The Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, also nominated the MP for Fomena Andrew Asiamah Amoako, for the position of the Second Deputy Speaker.
Soon after the House elected all the Deputy Speakers, Mr Bagbin proceeded to swear in the 274 MPs who were smartly dressed mostly in white outfits.