Bagbin unveils bold decentralisation agenda at Speakers’ Forum

At this year’s Speakers’ Forum in Accra, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, shared an ambitious vision to deepen decentralisation and bring Parliament even closer to the Ghanaian people.

Speaking on the theme “Parliamentary Decentralisation: Taking Parliament Closer to the People,” the Speaker announced plans to convene a National Conference that will bring together all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDDAs).

The goal is to strengthen decentralised governance and equip assemblies and assembly members with practical lawmaking skills to enhance their effectiveness.

Rt. Hon. Bagbin highlighted a number of people-focused initiatives introduced under his leadership to make Parliament more accessible and inclusive. Among the most innovative is the proposal to occasionally hold parliamentary sittings in marketplaces, chiefs’ palaces, and popular community centres.

According to him, this approach will encourage broader citizen participation and make parliamentary work more relatable to ordinary Ghanaians.

He also underscored the importance of educating the public on the true role of Members of Parliament. Initiatives such as breakfast forums, he explained, are intended to help citizens better understand the core responsibilities of MPs.

He stressed that parliamentary effectiveness should not be judged by media visibility or how frequently an MP appears on radio and television, but rather by the substance of their legislative and oversight work.

In a move that drew loud applause from participants, the Speaker further revealed plans to introduce the use of local languages on the floor of Parliament in the near future, a step aimed at promoting inclusivity and ensuring that parliamentary proceedings resonate more deeply with the public.

Other speakers at the forum, including the Majority and Minority Leaders, commended the Speaker for the initiative and praised the relevance of the theme. Notable contributions were made by Professor Kwamena Ahwoi, a respected local governance consultant, while the keynote address was delivered by Professor Yaw Agyeman Badu, Council Chair of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).