Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin has sworn into office a seven-member executive body of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) for a three-year renewable mandate.
Members of the new executive include Simon Againab as the Dean; Stephen Odoi-Larbi, Vice Dean; Kwaku Sakyi-Danso, General Secretary; and Ibrahim Alhassan, Organizing Secretary.
The rest are Francis Ekow Annan as the Deputy Secretary; Yesmeen Abubakar Tetteh, Treasurer; and Deborah Dzivenu, ex-officio member.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, the Speaker reminded the new executives that their position is crucial to situating Parliamentary business through the Press Corps to the Ghanaian public.
According to him, the very essence of leadership is vision and stressed that one cannot blow an empty trumpet.
He said, “It is not for nothing that you have been elected as executives to lead the way forward and chart the course of this group. You cannot be a leader and not have followers likewise, can you not be an irrepressible follower and expect to be a revered leader one day.”
Dean of the PPC, Simon Againab, in a statement, expressed his appreciation to the Speaker for his continued support for members of the Corps.\
He observed that the attrition rate among journalists in Parliament is not only affecting Parliament as an institution but also in the PPC.
“This is why capacity building exercises are very opportune and timely. Journalists in Parliament are the first information vehicle to the outside world and thus must always be in the position to give accurate accounts of happenings,” he said.
He assured members of the Corps that the newly-sworn executive will put in its best to ensure members distinguish themselves creditably.
Director of Parliament’s Public Affairs, Kate Addo, in her remarks, indicated the ethics of journalism are still the same and stressed the significance of a whole chapter in the Constitution being dedicated to press freedom and the responsibilities that come with it.
She urged members of the Corps to work and generate strong bylines because that will be enough to earn them their daily bread without having to look to MPs for handouts.
