I pledge to build on the achievements of my predecessors – Bagbin

Speaker of the 8th Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin says he will build on the feat of his predecessors.

Speaking at Parliament’s second sitting Friday, he said, “I pledge to build on these achievements and to widen and deepen the frontiers of parliamentary governance even further”.

Contributions made by earlier Speakers according to him have resulted in the growth and development of parliamentary law, practice, and procedure in the Fourth Republic.

“I can attest to the tireless efforts each and every one of them made to consolidate, strengthen the Institution of Parliament and to build the capacity of members and staff of Parliament,” he said.

Despite touting successes chalked by the institution, he, however, noted some pivotal laws which the previous Parliaments could not proceed and these have gone “into abeyance with the dissolution of the 7th Parliament”.

This, he said, “Draft Legislations such as the Affirmative Action Bill, Spousal Rights Bill, Standing Orders of the House which has been pending before the House since 2002, the Budget Bill, International Business and Agreements Bill, etc. calls for urgent action.”

As a result, he urged government agencies and institutions who are responsible for such Bills to make resubmissions to the House for early contemplation.

He re-echoed that his position as Speaker of the 8^th Parliament would be a bipartisan, inclusive, participatory, responsive, efficient and effective Parliament”.