“Radical” Alban Bagbin Dumps Colonial Speakers Gab, Goes Traditional

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, in a rather radical shift has dumped his official Speaker’s dress to wear a traditional dress at the helm of the legislature.

The unprecedented move by the Speaker on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, in the House is set to spark a chain reaction where MPs would be required to ditch their colonial dress code and adopt a more Ghanaian outlook.

The Speaker had donned a traditional Kente cloth over a white lace shirt and a crown as he presided over the day’s session.

Some weeks ago, Mr. Bagbin had indicated that he would only be using the Speaker’s cloak for ceremonial occasions this year, as part of efforts to change the dress code of members of the House.

“Hon Members, this is the Parliament of Ghana, a unique made-in Ghana product and we must showcase and market it to the world as a brand. We must create a unique set of values and norms that will give a unique character to our Parliament to set it apart from the colonial legacies of the British system. My outfit today, as the Speaker presiding, is to set in motion that agenda. The practice of MPs decently dressed in traditional attire led by the Speaker is long overdue. Ghanaians accept representation of the people to include representation of the full identity of the Ghanaian – i. e. culture, tradition and more importantly their dress code,” the Speaker said.

This move is part of a broad plan of the Speaker to tame the current Parliament.

In an opening address, following the return of MPs from the Christmas break, the Speaker said he would hold all MPs to higher conduct and ethics.

“The lessons of the first session have been learnt by us all and we should all pledge not to see, particularly, a repeat of those violent nasty scenes as well as defend and uphold the image of Parliament. To achieve this, I will, together with my Deputies and leadership, hold members to strict adherence to the rules, ethics, courtesies, and code of conduct of Members of Parliament. We will work to promote orderly behaviour and use of decent parliamentary language in the deliberations of the House,” the Speaker said.

The resolution follows a violent closure to the first year of the 8th Parliament, which is a hung one, as a result of disagreement over the government’s unpopular e-levy tax which seeks to tax financial transactions in the country.

The opposition NDC and governing NPP MPs had openly exchanged blows forcing parliament to go on recess without bringing closure to the debates on the 2022 budget and in particular, the e-levy.

Following the violence, many, including Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu ll had lamented the development saying it takes the shine away from Ghana’s democracy in the estimation of the comity of nations.

Rt. Hon. Bagbin reiterated that point and asked MPs to eschew excessive partisanship and in his words, “give the hung Parliament a chance.”

According to the Speaker, More efforts will be put into organising forums and workshops to enlighten members on these rules, norms and ethics of civil behaviour and conduct.

“Parliament will do all it can to create the environment for a collective effort to educate and inculcate the culture of a democratic society in the country. I reiterate the need for members to constantly refer to the literature and publications of this House on these matters and interact with their constituents on these values and principles of good behaviour and conduct.”