The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has renewed calls for the Legislature to be housed in a permanent facility, urging the Executive to release land near the State House for the construction of a dedicated Parliamentary complex.
Speaking at the launch of Parliament of Ghana Corporate Strategic Plan for 2026 to 2030 on Thursday, February 12, the Speaker said the continued use of space within the State House limits the work of Parliament and undermines its status as an independent arm of government.
He described the current arrangement as inconvenient and ill-suited to the growing demands of parliamentary business.
He explained that space constraints and inadequate facilities affect efficiency, particularly during moments that require swift and transparent decision-making.
To address some of these challenges, Parliament is piloting an electronic voting system aimed at improving how decisions are taken on the floor of the House.
Mr Bagbin acknowledged efforts to modernise existing facilities but said these measures fall short of what is needed for a modern legislature.
He appealed to the Executive to release the parcel of land around the State House to allow Parliament to build a permanent home that reflects its role as a pillar of Ghana’s democracy.
He also noted that some facilities within the State House complex are not readily accessible to Parliament unless fees are paid, further complicating daily operations.
The call revives debate around the need for a new Parliament House.
In 2019, a proposal by the then New Patriotic Party government to construct a new chamber faced strong resistance from the Minority and civil society groups, leading to the #DropTheChamber protests and the eventual suspension of the plan.
