Bagbin re-elected CoSPAL chair

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been re-elected for a second term as Chairman of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL). 

He was re-elected during the Second General Assembly of CoSPAL in Accra.

Other officers who were also elected included Mr Ibidapo Olufemi Oyewole as CoSPAL Secretary-General, Madam Anita Annet, the Speaker of Uganda Parliament, as Vice-Chairperson, and four Regional CoSPAL Vice-Chairmen.

The re-election of Speaker Bagbin, who is Ghana's longest-serving legislator, is a testament to his strong leadership skills.

Active role

Mr Bagbin urged African legislatures to take an active role in advancing the continent's development agenda.

“As representatives of our people, we cannot sit on the fringes. Legislatures must be at the heart of initiatives aimed at solving Africa's challenges to meet the needs and aspirations of the people we represent," he stated.

He noted that CoSPAL was the first permanent platform that sought to mobilise and unite Speakers and Presidents of legislatures across the continent to support the agenda for Africa’s growth and sustainable development.

He explained that CoSPAL was not formed to rival or compete with any existing organisations to detract from their relevance or duplicate their objectives and activities.

“On the contrary, CoSPAL was formed to support and complement their work from the unique perspective of African Speakers and Presidents of National Assemblies” he added.