Parliament will not be a rubber stamp under my watch -Bagbin

The Speaker of Ghana’s  8^th parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has warned of a new era of an assertive parliament that won’t rubber stamp executive proposals.

According to him, the perception that parliament will do the bidding of the executive should be dispelled.

“As speaker, I will not yield to any pressure from any quarters to turned parliament into a rubber stamp or an obstructor,” he said in his opening address to parliament.

Reiterating the primary role of parliament, Mr.  Bagbin said he will not be a poodle for the ruling NPP neither will he be an abstructor to government business.

“Regardless of which party who nominated or voted the speaker of parliament, the office is nonpartisan and so there is no NPP speaker or NDC speaker” he added.

Mr. Bagbin is the first member of an opposition party to lead Ghana’s parliament as Speaker.

Since his assumption of office, some political analysts have predicted an obstruction in the work of government since he is a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress but Mr. Bagbin says he will be impartial in discharging his duties.

“I intend to live by the oath I swore before my assumption of office to respect and abide by the will of the house, I am fully committed to being fair and impartial but I am also fully committed to being firm and resolute” he added.

He said parliament does its job as it must when its questions, investigative the executives adding that the speakership of parliament is not a partisan political office and therefore, he will discharge his duties diligently according to the dictates of the standing orders of the house.

“I will apply the authorities of the house as symbolized by the days to protect and defend the integrity of the house” he added.