Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (born 24 September 1957) is a Ghanaian politician who is the current Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana.[1][2][3][4][5] He was the Minister for Health in the Ghana government from January 2012[6] until February 2013. He served as the Member of Parliament for Nadowli West constituency in the Upper West Region of Ghana in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th parliaments of the 4th republic of Ghana.[7] He contested for the presidential candidate slot of the National Democratic Congress in 2019, but lost to former President John Dramani Mahama.[8] On 7 January 2021, Bagbin was elected Speaker of 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.[2][9]
Alban Bagbin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bagbin in 2021 | |
| Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana (7thSpeaker of the Fourth Republic) | |
| Assumed office 7 January 2021 | |
| President | Nana Akufo-Addo |
| Preceded by | Aaron Mike Oquaye |
| Member of the Ghanaian Parliament for Nadowli West Constituency | |
| In office 7 January 2005 – 6 January 2021 | |
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Sumah Anthony Mwinikaara |
| Member of the Ghanaian Parliament for Nadowli North Constituency | |
| In office 7 January 1993 – 6 January 2005 | |
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Constituency changed |
| Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament | |
| In office 7 January 2017 – 6 January 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Ghartey |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Asiamah Amoako |
| Majority Leader in Parliament | |
| In office July 2014 – January 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Kumbuor |
| Succeeded by | Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu |
| In office January 2009 – January 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Abraham Ossei Aidooh |
| Succeeded by | Cletus Avoka |
| Minister for Health | |
| In office 26 January 2012 – 6 January 2013 | |
| President | John Atta Mills |
| Preceded by | Joseph Yieleh Chireh |
| Succeeded by | Hanny-Sherry Ayitey |
| Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing | |
| In office 10 January 2010 – 26 January 2012 | |
| President | John Atta Mills |
| Preceded by | Albert Abongo |
| Succeeded by | E. T. Mensah |
| Minority Leader in Parliament | |
| In office January 2001 – January 2009 | |
| Preceded by | J. H. Mensah |
| Succeeded by | Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 September 1957 Sombo, Ghana |
| Political party | National Democratic Congress |
| Alma mater | |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Early life and education
editAlban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin was born on 24 September 1957 to Sansunni Bagbin and Margaret B. Bagbin who were both peasant farmers. He is the fourth child of nine children. He is a member of the Dagaaba ethnic group.[10][11] He hails from Sombo, Upper West Region of Ghana. Alban Bagbin was educated at the Wa Secondary School and Tamale Secondary School. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and English at the University of Ghana in 1980.[12]
He proceeded to the Ghana School of Law at Makola in Accra after which he was called to the bar in 1982.[7] Bagbin also earned an Executive Masters in Governance and Leadership from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).[13]
Career
editBagbin worked as the acting Secretary to the Statistical Service Board at the Bureau of Statistics and Statistical Service from 1980 to 1982.[12] He worked as Personnel Manager of the erstwhile State Hotels Corporation consisting of Ambassador and Continental Hotels between 1982 and 1983, before relocating to Libya to teach English in Tripoli at the Suk Juma Secondary School.[12]
Following Bagbin's return to Ghana in 1986, he joined Akyem Chambers, a law firm of legal practitioners, consultants and notaries public.[12] As an attorney, eventually rising to become a partner. Whilst working at Okyeman Chambers, between 1989 and 1992, he was appointed as the external solicitor of the Nii Ngleshie royal family of James Town, Credit Unions Association of Ghana (CUA) and several other private business firms within Accra.[12]
After working at Okyeman Chambers for 7 years, he moved from there in 1993 and to date is a partner of the Law Trust company, a legal firm of law practitioners, consultants and notaries public.[12]
Political life
editBagbin is a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He was first elected into Parliament during the 1992 Ghanaian General Elections. He represented the Nadowli West Constituency in the Upper West Region. In 2006, Bagbin announced his intentions to run for president in 2008 on the NDC ticket, but he never stood for the primaries.[14] He became the Majority Leader in the Ghanaian parliament in 2009.[15]
Following a cabinet reshuffle in January 2010, he was appointed Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing by President Mills.[16][17] He was also the Majority Leader of Parliament under President Mahama's tenure of office, he succeeded Benjamin Kunbuor, who was appointed as the Minister of Defense.[18] He also served as the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament from January 2017 to January 2021.[19]
Member of Parliament
edit1996 Elections
In 1996, Bagbin won the Nadowli North seat with 12,605 votes out of the 16,485 valid votes cast, representing 76.46% over Lawrence Banyen of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who polled 2,213 votes representing 13.42%, Yuoni Moses Vaalandzeri of the People's National Convention(PNC) polled 1,490 votes representing 9.04% and Baslide Kpemaal of the NCP polled 177 votes representing 1.07%.[20]
2000 Elections
In the 2000 Ghanaian elections, Bagbin was retained his seat as the member of parliament for the Nadwoli North constituency.[21] He won the elections with 9,004 votes out of the total votes cast,[21][22] equivalent to 58.60% over Dr. Anleu-Mwine D.B, an independent candidate, Clement Kanfuri Senchi of the Peoples National Congress, Ningkpeng Pauline of the New Patriotic Party, John Bayon Boniface Wetol, Domayele Marcel Aston of the National Reform Party of the United Ghana Movement Party who obtained, 2,089 votes, 718 votes, 145 votes and 0 votes respectively.[21]
2004 Elections
In 2004, ahead of the elections, Nadwoli North was split into two constituencies, Nadwoli West and Nadwoli East constituency. Bagbin was elected as the member of parliament for the Nadowli West constituency during 2004 elections.[22][23] He was elected with 11,296 votes out of 22,349 total valid votes cast equivalent to 50.5%.[22] He was elected over Clement K. Senchi of the PNC, Daniel Anleu-Mwine Baga of the NPP, Sasuu Bernard Kabawunu of the Convention People's Party, Bisung Edward of the Democratic People's Party and Dapilaa Ishak an independent candidate.[22] who obtained 625 votes, 5,297 votes, 152 votes, 188 votes, 4,791 votes respectively.[22]
Speaker of Parliament
editBagbin is the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.[2] He was sworn in on 7 January 2021, after a well-drawn-out contest, after he was nominated by the Ghanaian Members of Parliament on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress.[24] Bagbin defeated the incumbent, Mike Oquaye, who was nominated by the New Patriotic Party for the position.[25]
In October 2024, Bagbin declared four seats held by MPs who switched parties vacant, saying that the Constitution of Ghana prohibited party-switching. The decision effectively gave the opposition National Democratic Congress a majority in the legislature and prompted a legal challenge in the Supreme Court of Ghana from Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin.[26] The court then ordered Bagbin to suspend his decision while it deliberated on the petition.[27][28] On Tuesday 12th November 2024, the supreme court of Ghana reverse the decision made by the Speaker of parliament after the Supreme Court interpreted Article 97(1) (g) and (h) of the Constitution to mean that an MP vacates his seat only during a term of Parliament, and not during a future Parliament.[29][30]
Personal life
editBagbin is married to Alice Adjua Yornas Bagbin, who is a Programme Officer of the UNICEF Office in Ghana.[12] He is a Christian and worships as a Roman Catholic.[13]
References
edit- ^ "Bagbin is Speaker for 8th Parliament". MyJoyOnline.com. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Carrey, Kelvin (7 January 2021). "Alban Bagbin elected Speaker of 8th Parliament". 3NEWS. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ "Petition Parliament over exclusion from parliamentary polls – Bagbin to SALL residents". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ "Speaker Alban Bagbin urges SALL residents to petition Parliament - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ Online, Peace FM. "Speaker Not An MP, For What Reason Will Gov't Gag Him? - Egyapa Mercer Quizzes". Peacefmonline- Ghana news. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ Africa, Daily Guide (26 January 2012). "4 Ministers Sacked In Cabinet Shake-up". News Ghana. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (NDC) (Nadowli West)". Upper West » Members Of Parliament » Profile. GhanaDistricts.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ "NDC presidential primaries: John Mahama secures landslide victory". Ghanaweb. 24 February 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ "We may never be able to rely on Bagbin for successful government business - Deputy Speaker - MyJoyOnline.com". Myjoyonline. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "Parliament of Ghana". parliament of ghana. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "DAGAABA (Dagaaba (Dagarti/Dagara) People". Dagaaba (Dagarti/Dagara) People. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Boakye, Edna Agnes (7 January 2021). "Profile of Speaker of 8th Parliament, Alban Bagbin". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Alban Bagbin: 10 important facts about Ghana's 8th Speaker of Parliament". ghanaweb. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Bagbin to run for presidency". ghanaweb. 30 November 2001. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ Ghana Parliamentary Register 1992-1996. Ghana Publishing Corporation. 1993. p. 353.
- ^ "President Mills reshuffles Ministers". General News of Monday, 25 January 2010. Ghana Home Page. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ "Reshuffle Blues: Sena Dansua Heads Sports Ministry". General News of Tuesday, 26 January 2010. Ghana Home Page. Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ "Alban Bagbin Confirmed As Majority Leader of Parliament. He is considered as the all time legislature in the democratic history of Ghana". The Accra Report.
- ^ "We're yet to debate new chamber project - Alban Bagbin". Citi Newsroom. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ FM, Peace (17 December 2014). "Ghana Election 1996 Results - Nadowli North Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ a b c FM, Peace (17 December 2014). "Ghana Election 2000 Results - Nadowli North Constituency". Ghana Elections - Peace FM. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Elections 2004; Ghana's Parliamentary and Presidential Elections (PDF). Accra: Electoral Commission of Ghana; Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. 2005. p. 190.
- ^ Ghana Parliamentary Register, 2004-2008. Ghana: The Office of Parliament. 2004.
- ^ "NDC pitches Alban Bagbin for Speaker; confirms Haruna Iddrisu as leader in Parliament". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- ^ Agyeman, Adwoa (4 January 2021). "NPP chooses Prof Mike Oquaye as Speaker of Parliament". Adomonline. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ "ALEXANDER AFENYO MARKIN vs. SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT AND ATTORNEY - GENERAL[2024]DLSC17713". www.dennislawgh.com. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Ghana's parliament suspended after chaotic scenes". BBC. 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Power shifts in Parliament; NDC becomes majority caucus after Speaker declares 4 MPs seats vacant - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Supreme Court rules: Speaker's declaration of four seats vacant is unconstitutional - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "Supreme Court overrules Bagbin's decision on vacant seats". 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.