Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker of the Fifth Parliament, on Wednesday urged members of the new Parliament to work together in unity to make just laws that would be beneficial to nation-building. She said as representatives of the whole of Ghana, they should cooperate and aim to build a better Ghana. Justice Bamford-Addo was giving her maiden address in Parliament shortly after being sworn-in as Speaker by Justice Georgina Wood, Chief Justice. The retired Supreme Court judge made history as the first woman to assume the high office of the Speaker of Parliament. She thanked members of the House for endorsing her candidature and expressed the hope that she could rely on them to steer the affairs of Parliament during her tenure. She said she hoped to bring her public life experiences to bear on her duties in the House. “I hope to bring my experiences in public life to my new role in the discharge of my duties in line with the constitution… with humility, fairness and maturity.” She paid tribute to former Speakers of the House, and mentioned in particular Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Huaghes, the immediate past Speaker. Earlier, after being elected unopposed, Mr Alban Bagbin, who led the Majority NDC side, commended the Speaker for making herself available to serve in the position. Mr Bagbin said by the election of a female Speaker, Ghanaians were waking up to the realities of gender equality and the democratic principles of fairness and justice, including an all-inclusiveness agenda at the top. He said it was significant that women were now making gains with the Executive arm of government having men and the two separate arms of governance being headed by women. He assured the Speaker of the cooperation of both sides of the House, saying “we sincerely assure you of cooperation….We are serious minded people and committed… and together we would move this nation forward. Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, leading the NPP Minority side, said the Speaker had a distinguished career to bring to bear on work in the House. He touched on the need for truth in all transactions in the House and said the minority side was ready to cooperate and work with the Speaker. Mr Kyei-Mensah Bonsu said the minority must be allowed to have their say and urged the Speaker to be guided at all times by her conscience, the Standing Orders of Parliament and the Constitution. Source: GNA