Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has inaugurated the new Parliament Supplementary Office Complex, calling for a renewed commitment to strengthen democratic governance through a robust and accountable Parliament.
The facility, unveiled in Parliament on Tuesday October 29, is expected to enhance Parliament’s operational capacity, especially in its oversight and legislative duties, which the Speaker emphasized as critical to serving the people’s interests.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration ceremony, Speaker Bagbin stressed Parliament’s central role in Ghana’s democratic framework.
He stated, “Any democracy anywhere is as good as its Parliament. If the people are to benefit from democratic governments, it is the parliament, which is the mirror of democracy, that should be the focus that should be strengthened.”
Strengthening the legislature, he said, is a shared responsibility among all citizens, not just legislators and called on Ghanaians to actively support Parliament’s mandate to ensure that resources and rights are applied to benefit everyone.
He said, “Strengthening parliament is not just the duty of parliament, but of everybody. And we have to work together to make sure that our people don’t suffer and struggle to elect us in vain.”
According to him, it is parliament that has the only function of oversight and explainined that the legislative body must ensure that collective efforts in “terms of energy, in terms of resources, in terms of rights and trusts” are properly applied.
He described the new office complex as an investment in Ghana’s democratic infrastructure, reiterating that such resources must not be wasted.
The facility, built as part of the Parliamentary Supplementary Office Project, includes a range of facilities designed to enhance both operational efficiency and professional development.
These spaces include the Parliamentary Training Institute, which will provide training programs tailored to Parliament’s evolving needs, and specialist offices such as the Office of Budget and Fiscal Analysis, the Office of Policy Analysis, and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.
The Speaker appealed to all stakeholders, urging a shift in mindset to ensure the effective use of resources for the benefit of all citizens.
The newly unveiled facility is anticipated to play a significant role in Ghana’s democratic development, empowering Parliament to better serve the people and uphold their will.
Speaker Bagbin charged Ghanaians to use the investment in Parliament to build a democracy that “leaves nobody behind.”
In his welcome remarks, Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, urged all members and staff to contribute to the maintenance and sustainability of the complex, advising against wastefulness and the importance of preserving the infrastructure for future use.
Mr. Nsiah celebrated the new office complex as a significant milestone for the Parliamentary Service and an investment in Parliament’s ability to carry out its mandate more effectively.
The facility, he said, marks a new chapter for Ghana’s Parliament, equipping it with the tools necessary to fulfill its constitutional role while adapting to modern legislative and administrative challenges.