Speaker Bagbin to Depart For Australia

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is scheduled to embark on a trip to Australia for the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International Conference amid the tension among members of Parliament and the country’s Legislature and Judiciary.

This was made known to the members of the Council of State during a courtesy visit to the Speaker on October 30.

Though the date for the trip was not communicated, the Conference being hosted in Sydney, will begin on November 3 and end on November 8.

He is expected to leave the country alongside the former Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, the two Leaders of the House, two Whips, the Clerk to Parliament, and other officials of the Parliamentary Service.

“The conference is to take place from the 3rd to the 8th of November, where Speaker Bagbin, the Immediate Past President of CPA International, is expected to hand over to the newly elected President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Speaker of the Parliament of New South Wales, Australia,” a statement issued by the Parliamentary Service said on October 30.

Speaker Bagbin has recently been elected to a second term as President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures.

He is expected to return to the country soon to recall Parliament after it was adjourned sine dine over his declaration of four seats vacant which sparked a controversy.

The Council of State led by the Chairman, Nana Otuo Siriboe, visited the Speaker to familiarize themselves with the impasse regarding the legislature.

According to the statement, members of the Council assured the Rt. Hon Speaker of their preparedness to assist him and the leadership of the House to resolve whatever impasse there may be, to pave the way for a recall of the House.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini