Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has criticised Ghana’s two dominant political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for failing to present female candidates in the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election.

Speaking at a forum on Political Inclusion and Consensus Building, organised by the Africa Center for Parliamentary Affairs, the Speaker said the absence of women candidates reflects a deeper failure by political parties to promote gender inclusion and leadership development.

“Inclusion must begin in parties and mature in Parliament. I was waiting for any party to have fielded a female in the Ayawaso by-election, and I was personally going to support the candidate because we need more of our women in Parliament. Unfortunately, the parties have disappointed me,” he said.

Mr Bagbin stressed that political parties should not merely function as vehicles for electoral competition but must serve as training grounds for leadership and national development.

“Political parties are often seen as vehicles of electoral competition. But they are much more than that. Political parties constitute schools of leadership,” he added.

The Speaker also raised concerns about Ghana’s political structure, arguing that the country needs a strong third political force to balance the dominance of the NDC and NPP.

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He recalled the early years of Ghana’s Fourth Republic, noting the diversity and national integration fostered by party congresses in the 1990s.

“We now seem to have only two strong, vibrant, surviving parties. For me, I think we need a third force,” he said.

Mr Bagbin maintained that greater political diversity and stronger female representation in Parliament are essential for deepening democracy, strengthening inclusion, and building a more representative and resilient political system in Ghana.