Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin was on the dawn of Tuesday elected as Speaker of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
Speaker Bagbin, who served as the Speaker of the Eight Parliament, was nominated by Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, and seconded by Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader.
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office to Mr Bagbin.
Subsequently, Speaker Bagbin proceeded to swear in Members of the House.
He also supervised the election of Mr Bernard Ahiafor, Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi South, as First Deputy Speaker and Mr Andrew Asiamah Amoako, MP for Fomena, as the Second Deputy Speaker.
Speaker Bagbin, in his acceptance speech, said: “It is with great humility that I accept the high and privileged office of the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, having had the same honour to be Speaker of the Eighth Parliament”.
“I am grateful to the Almighty God for His grace and mercies for me to achieve this rare feat. To Him be all the praise and honour.”
He expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by Parliament to head the honorable House once more.
The Speaker expressed appreciation to President-elect John Dramani Mahama for the trust and confidence reposed in him and for recommending his candidature as Speaker in consultation with the leadership of the National Democratic Congress.
“I came to the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament with my experience as the longest legislator of the House,” he said.
“I now come to the Ninth Parliament with just not that background, but now with the experience of four years of Speakership of a very difficult-hung Parliament.”
“I promise to bring all these experiences to bear in guiding this House to perform its mandate with efficiency, diligence, and above all, with a sense of being the bulwark of democracy in Ghana.”
He urged the good people of Ghana to support Members of Parliament and be interested in their work for a better nation.